Airfoils including plurality of nozzles and venturi

ABSTRACT

Airfoils including a plurality of nozzles and venturi. The airfoils may include a body including an inner wall defining a high pressure fluid chamber, and a plurality of high pressure nozzles extending through the inner wall. Each high pressure nozzle may be in fluid communication with the high pressure fluid chamber. The airfoil body may also include an intermediate wall positioned adjacent to and surrounding the inner wall to define a low pressure fluid chamber formed between the intermediate wall and the inner wall, and a plurality of low pressure venturi extending through the intermediate wall. Each low pressure venturi may be in fluid communication with the low pressure fluid chamber. Additionally, the airfoil body may include an outer wall positioned adjacent to and surrounding the intermediate wall to define a cooling channel formed between the intermediate wall and the outer wall.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The disclosure relates generally to hot gas path components for turbinesystems, and more particularly, to hot gas path components formed asairfoils that include a plurality of nozzles and venturi formed therein.

Conventional turbomachines, such as gas turbine systems, generate powerfor electric generators. In general, gas turbine systems generate powerby passing a fluid (e.g., hot gas) through a turbine component of thegas turbine system. More specifically, inlet air may be drawn into acompressor to be compressed. Once compressed, the inlet air is mixedwith fuel to form a combustion product, which may be reacted by acombustor of the gas turbine system to form the operational fluid (e.g.,hot gas) of the gas turbine system. The fluid may then flow through afluid flow path for rotating a plurality of rotating blades and rotor orshaft of the turbine component for generating the power. The fluid maybe directed through the turbine component via the plurality of rotatingblades and a plurality of stationary nozzles or vanes positioned betweenthe rotating blades. As the plurality of rotating blades rotate therotor of the gas turbine system, a generator, coupled to the rotor, maygenerate power from the rotation of the rotor.

During operation, turbine blades and vanes, and more specifically theairfoils of each, may be exposed to high temperature operational fluidsflowing through the flow path of the turbine component. Over time and/orduring exposure, the airfoils of the turbine blades and vanes mayundergo undesirable thermal expansion and/or operational wear. Thethermal expansion of the airfoils may result in damage to and/or outagesof the blades/vanes of the turbine. When the airfoils become damaged orundergo an outage event, the operational efficiency of the turbinecomponent, and in turn the entire turbine system, may be reduced.Additionally, when an airfoil is damaged or an outage event occurs, theturbine component may need to shutdown to replace the damaged turbineblade and/or vane, resulting in no power being generated by the turbinesystem when the blade/vane is replaced.

To minimize thermal expansion and degradation, airfoils are typicallycooled. For example, conventional airfoils typically contain anintricate maze of internal cooling passages. Cooling air (or othersuitable coolant) provided by, for example, a compressor of a gasturbine system, may be passed through and out of the cooling passages tocool various portions of the airfoil for the blades and vanes. Coolingcircuits formed by one or more cooling passages in these conventionalairfoils may include, for example, internal, near wall cooling circuits,internal central cooling circuits, tip cooling circuits, and coolingcircuits adjacent the leading and trailing edges of the airfoil.

Typically in conventional systems, only high pressure cooling air may beprovided to and utilized by the airfoils for cooling. As a result,substantially all or most of the cooling air flowing throughconventional gas turbine static components must be provided fromhigh-pressure sources, which are subject to a greater quantity ofcompressor pumping work. Cooling air from lower-pressure sources thatmay otherwise be available to cool the components cannot be used if thepressure is too low. This in turn may reduce the operational efficiencyof the gas turbine system, and/or may require supplemental high pressureair generation system(s) to be incorporated within the gas turbinesystem. Using supplemental high pressure air generation systems toprovide additional high pressure air to the system thus add undesirablebuild, installation, maintenance, and/or operational expenses to the gasturbine system.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

A first aspect of the disclosure provides an airfoil including: a bodyincluding: an inner wall defining a high pressure fluid chamber; aplurality of high pressure nozzles extending through the inner wall,each of the plurality of high pressure nozzles in fluid communicationwith the high pressure fluid chamber; an intermediate wall positionedadjacent to and surrounding the inner wall to define a low pressurefluid chamber formed between the intermediate wall and the inner wall; aplurality of low pressure venturi extending through the intermediatewall, each of the plurality of low pressure venturi in fluidcommunication with the low pressure fluid chamber; and an outer wallpositioned adjacent to and surrounding the intermediate wall to define acooling channel formed between the intermediate wall and the outer wall.

A second aspect of the disclosure provides an airfoil including: a bodyincluding: a first inner wall defining a first high pressure fluidchamber; a first plurality of high pressure nozzles extending throughthe first inner wall, each of the first plurality of high pressurenozzles in fluid communication with the first high pressure fluidchamber; a first intermediate wall positioned adjacent to andsurrounding the first inner wall to define a first low pressure fluidchamber between the first intermediate wall and the first inner wall; afirst plurality of low pressure venturi extending through the firstintermediate wall, each of the first plurality of low pressure venturiin fluid communication with the first low pressure fluid chamber; asecond inner wall surrounding and defining a second high pressure fluidchamber, the second inner wall positioned adjacent the first inner wall;a second plurality of high pressure nozzles extending through the secondinner wall, each of the second plurality of high pressure nozzles influid communication with the second high pressure fluid chamber; asecond intermediate wall positioned adjacent to and surrounding thesecond inner wall to define a second low pressure fluid chamber formedbetween the second intermediate wall and the second inner wall; a secondplurality of low pressure venturi extending through the secondintermediate wall, each of the second plurality of low pressure venturiin fluid communication with the second low pressure fluid chamber; anouter wall positioned adjacent to and surrounding: the firstintermediate wall to define a first cooling channel formed between thefirst intermediate wall and the outer wall; and the second intermediatewall to define a second cooling channel formed between the secondintermediate wall and the outer wall; and a sectioning wall extendingbetween and separating the first cooling channel and the second coolingchannel, the sectioning wall surrounded by the outer wall.

The illustrative aspects of the present disclosure are designed to solvethe problems herein described and/or other problems not discussed.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

These and other features of this disclosure will be more readilyunderstood from the following detailed description of the variousaspects of the disclosure taken in conjunction with the accompanyingdrawings that depict various embodiments of the disclosure, in which:

FIG. 1 shows a schematic diagram of a gas turbine system, according toembodiments of the disclosure.

FIG. 2 shows a side view of a portion of a turbine of the gas turbinesystem of FIG. 1 including a turbine blade, a stator vane, a rotor, acasing, a hot gas path component, and a support, according toembodiments of the disclosure.

FIG. 3 shows an enlarged side view of a portion of the gas turbinesystem of FIG. 2, according to embodiments of the disclosure.

FIG. 4 shows an isometric view of the hot gas path component of FIGS. 2and 3, according to embodiments of the disclosure.

FIG. 5 shows a cross-sectional side view of the hot gas path componenttaken along line CS-CS in FIG. 4, according to embodiments of thedisclosure.

FIG. 6 shows an enlarged cross-sectional side view of the hot gas pathcomponent of FIG. 5, according to embodiments of the disclosure.

FIG. 7 shows an enlarged side view of a portion of the gas turbinesystem of FIG. 2, according to additional embodiments of the disclosure.

FIG. 8 shows a cross-sectional side view of the hot gas path componentshown in FIG. 7, according to embodiments of the disclosure.

FIG. 9 shows an enlarged side view of a portion of the gas turbinesystem of FIG. 2, according to further embodiments of the disclosure.

FIG. 10 shows an enlarged side view of a portion of the gas turbinesystem of FIG. 1, according to additional embodiments of the disclosure.

FIG. 11 shows a cross-sectional side view of the hot gas path componentof FIG. 10, according to embodiments of the disclosure.

FIG. 12 shows an enlarged side view of a portion of the gas turbinesystem of FIG. 1, according to another embodiment of the disclosure.

FIG. 13 shows a cross-sectional side view of the hot gas path componentof FIG. 12, according to embodiments of the disclosure.

FIG. 14 shows a side view of a portion of a turbine of the gas turbinesystem of FIG. 1 including two turbine blades, a stator vane including ahot gas path component, a rotor, a casing, and a support, according toadditional embodiments of the disclosure.

FIG. 15 shows an enlarged side view of a portion of the gas turbinesystem of FIG. 10, according to additional embodiments of thedisclosure.

FIG. 16 shows a side view of a portion of a turbine of the gas turbinesystem of FIG. 1 including a turbine blade, a stator vane, a rotor, acasing, a hot gas path component, and a support, according toembodiments of the disclosure.

FIG. 17 shows a top cross-sectional view of the airfoil of the turbineblade or stator vane of shown in FIG. 16, taken along line CS-CS,according to embodiments of the disclosure.

FIG. 18 shows an enlarged cross-sectional side view of the airfoil ofFIG. 17, according to embodiments of the disclosure.

FIG. 19 shows a top cross-sectional view of the airfoil of the turbineblade or stator vane of shown in FIG. 16, taken along line CS-CS,according to additional embodiments of the disclosure.

FIG. 20 shows a top cross-sectional view of the airfoil of the turbineblade or stator vane of shown in FIG. 16, taken along line CS-CS,according to further embodiments of the disclosure.

FIG. 21 shows a top cross-sectional view of the airfoil of the turbineblade or stator vane of shown in FIG. 16, taken along line CS-CS,according to another embodiment of the disclosure.

FIG. 22 shows a block diagram of an additive manufacturing processincluding a non-transitory computer readable storage medium storing coderepresentative of a hot gas path component according to embodiments ofthe disclosure.

It is noted that the drawings of the disclosure are not to scale. Thedrawings are intended to depict only typical aspects of the disclosure,and therefore should not be considered as limiting the scope of thedisclosure. In the drawings, like numbering represents like elementsbetween the drawings.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

As an initial matter, in order to clearly describe the currentdisclosure it will become necessary to select certain terminology whenreferring to and describing relevant machine components within the scopeof this disclosure. When doing this, if possible, common industryterminology will be used and employed in a manner consistent with itsaccepted meaning. Unless otherwise stated, such terminology should begiven a broad interpretation consistent with the context of the presentapplication and the scope of the appended claims. Those of ordinaryskill in the art will appreciate that often a particular component maybe referred to using several different or overlapping terms. What may bedescribed herein as being a single part may include and be referenced inanother context as consisting of multiple components. Alternatively,what may be described herein as including multiple components may bereferred to elsewhere as a single part.

In addition, several descriptive terms may be used regularly herein, andit should prove helpful to define these terms at the onset of thissection. These terms and their definitions, unless stated otherwise, areas follows. As used herein, “downstream” and “upstream” are terms thatindicate a direction relative to the flow of a fluid, such as theworking fluid through the turbine engine or, for example, the flow ofair through the combustor or coolant through one of the turbine'scomponent systems. The term “downstream” corresponds to the direction offlow of the fluid, and the term “upstream” refers to the directionopposite to the flow. The terms “forward” and “aft,” without any furtherspecificity, refer to directions, with “forward” referring to the frontor compressor end of the engine, and “aft” referring to the rearward orturbine end of the engine. Additionally, the terms “leading” and“trailing” may be used and/or understood as being similar in descriptionas the terms “forward” and “aft,” respectively. It is often required todescribe parts that are at differing radial, axial and/orcircumferential positions. The “A” axis represents an axial orientation.As used herein, the terms “axial” and/or “axially” refer to the relativeposition/direction of objects along axis A, which is substantiallyparallel with the axis of rotation of the turbine system (in particular,the rotor section). As further used herein, the terms “radial” and/or“radially” refer to the relative position/direction of objects along adirection “R” (see, FIG. 1), which is substantially perpendicular withaxis A and intersects axis A at only one location. Finally, the term“circumferential” refers to movement or position around axis A (e.g.,direction “C”).

As indicated above, the disclosure provides hot gas path components forturbine systems, and more particularly, to hot gas path componentsformed as airfoils that include a plurality of nozzles and venturiformed therein.

These and other embodiments are discussed below with reference to FIGS.1-22. However, those skilled in the art will readily appreciate that thedetailed description given herein with respect to these Figures is forexplanatory purposes only and should not be construed as limiting.

FIG. 1 shows a schematic view of an illustrative gas turbine system 10.Gas turbine system 10 may include a compressor 12. Compressor 12compresses an incoming flow of air 18. Compressor 12 delivers a flow ofcompressed air 20 to a combustor 22. Combustor 22 mixes the flow ofcompressed air 20 with a pressurized flow of fuel 24 and ignites themixture to create a flow of combustion gases 26. Although only a singlecombustor 22 is shown, gas turbine system 10 may include any number ofcombustors 22. The flow of combustion gases 26 is in turn delivered to aturbine 28, which typically includes a plurality of turbine bladesincluding airfoils (see, FIG. 2) and stator vanes (see, FIG. 2). Theflow of combustion gases 26 drives turbine 28, and more specifically theplurality of turbine blades of turbine 28, to produce mechanical work.The mechanical work produced in turbine 28 drives compressor 12 via arotor 30 extending through turbine 28, and may be used to drive anexternal load 32, such as an electrical generator and/or the like.

Gas turbine system 10 may also include an exhaust frame 34. As shown inFIG. 1, exhaust frame 34 may be positioned adjacent to turbine 28 of gasturbine system 10. More specifically, exhaust frame 34 may be positionedadjacent to turbine 28 and may be positioned substantially downstream ofturbine 28 and/or the flow of combustion gases 26 flowing from combustor22 to turbine 28. As discussed herein, a portion (e.g., outer casing) ofexhaust frame 34 may be coupled directly to an enclosure, shell, orcasing 36 of turbine 28.

Subsequent to combustion gases 26 flowing through and driving turbine28, combustion gases 26 may be exhausted, flow-through and/or dischargedthrough exhaust frame 34 in a flow direction (D). In the non-limitingexample shown in FIG. 1, combustion gases 26 may flow through exhaustframe 34 in the flow direction (D) and may be discharged from gasturbine system 10 (e.g., to the atmosphere). In another non-limitingexample where gas turbine system 10 is part of a combined cycle powerplant (e.g., including gas turbine system and a steam turbine system),combustion gases 26 may discharge from exhaust frame 34, and may flow inthe flow direction (D) into a heat recovery steam generator of thecombined cycle power plant.

Turning to FIG. 2, a portion of turbine 28 is shown. Specifically, FIG.2 shows a side view of a portion of turbine 28 including a stage ofturbine blades 38 (one shown), and a stage of stator vanes 40 (oneshown) positioned within casing 36 of turbine 28. As discussed herein,each stage (e.g., first stage, second stage (not shown), third stage(not shown)) of turbine blades 38 may include a plurality of turbineblades 38 that may be coupled to and positioned circumferentially aroundrotor 30 and may be driven by combustion gases 26 to rotate rotor 30.Additionally, each stage (e.g., first stage, second stage (not shown),third stage (not shown)) of stator vanes 40 may include a plurality ofstator vanes that may be coupled to and/or positioned circumferentiallyabout casing 36 of turbine 28. In the non-limiting example shown in FIG.2, stator vanes 40 may include a plurality of hot gas path (HGP)components 200. For example, HGP components 200 of stator vanes 40 mayinclude and/or be formed as an outer platform 200A positioned adjacentand/or coupling stator vanes 40 to casing 26 of turbine 28, and an innerplatform 200B positioned opposite the outer platform 200A,. Stator vanes40 of turbine 28 may also include an airfoil 42 positioned between outerplatform 200A and inner platform 200B. Outer platform 200A and innerplatform 200B of stator vanes 40 may define a flow path (FP) for thecombustion gases 26 flowing over stator vanes 40.

Stator vane 40 may be coupled to casing 36 via support 202. Support 202may extend radially inward from casing 36 of turbine 28, and may beconfigured to be coupled to and/or receive HGP component formed as outerplatform 200A of stator vanes 40 to couple, position, and/or securestator vanes 40 to and/or within casing 36. In the non-limiting example,support 202 may be coupled and/or fixed to casing 36 of turbine 28. Morespecifically, support 202 may be circumferentially disposed aroundcasing 36, and may be positioned axially adjacent turbine blades 38. Inanother non-limiting example (not shown), support 202 may be formedintegral with casing 36 for coupling, positioning, and/or securingstator vanes 40 to and/or within casing 36. In another non-limitingexample (not shown), support 202 may be coupled and/or affixed directlyto a support for a HGP component associated with turbine blade 38, asdiscussed herein.

Each turbine blade 38 of turbine 28 may include an airfoil 46 extendingradially from rotor 30 and positioned within the flow path (FP) ofcombustion gases 26 flowing through turbine 28. Each airfoil 46 mayinclude a tip portion 48 positioned radially opposite rotor 30. Turbineblades 38 and stator vanes 40 may also be positioned axially adjacent toone another within casing 36. In the non-limiting example shown in FIG.2, stator vanes 40 may be positioned axially adjacent and downstream ofturbine blades 38. Not all turbine blades 38, stator vanes 40 and/or allof rotor 30 of turbine 28 are shown for clarity. Additionally, althoughonly a portion of a single stage of turbine blades 38 and stator vanes40 of turbine 28 are shown in FIG. 2, turbine 28 may include a pluralityof stages of turbine blades and stator vanes, positioned axiallythroughout casing 36 of turbine 28.

Turbine 28 of gas turbine system 10 (see, FIG. 1) may also include aplurality of hot gas path (HGP) components 100. In a non-limitingexample shown in FIG. 2, HGP component 100 may be turbine shroudsincluded within turbine 28. In this non-limiting examples discussedherein with respect to FIGS. 2-13, HGP component 100 and turbine shroudmay be used interchangeably. Turbine 28 may include a stage of HGPcomponents 100 (one shown). HGP components 100 may correspond with thestage of turbine blades 38 and/or the stage of stator vanes 40. That is,and as discussed herein, the stage of HGP components 100 may bepositioned within turbine 28 adjacent the stage of turbine blades 38and/or the stage of stator vanes 40 to interact with and provide a sealin the flow path (FP) of combustion gases 26 flowing through turbine 28.In the non-limiting example shown in FIG. 2, the stage of HGP components100 may be positioned radially adjacent and/or may substantiallysurround or encircle the stage of turbine blades 38. HGP components 100may be positioned radially adjacent tip portion 48 of airfoil 46 forturbine blade 38. Additionally, HGP components 100 may also bepositioned axially adjacent and/or upstream of stator vanes 40 ofturbine 28.

Similar to stator vanes 40, the stage of HGP components 100 may includea plurality of HGP components 100 that may be coupled to and positionedcircumferentially about casing 36 of turbine 28. In the non-limitingexample shown in FIG. 2, HGP components 100 may be coupled to casing 36via support 102 extending radially inward from casing 36 of turbine 28.Support 102 may be configured to be coupled to and/or receive fastenersor hooks (see, FIG. 4) of HGP components 100 to couple, position, and/orsecure HGP components 100 to casing 36 of turbine 28. In thenon-limiting example, support 102 may be coupled and/or fixed to casing36 of turbine 28. More specifically, support 102 may becircumferentially disposed around casing 36, and may be positionedradially adjacent turbine blades 38. In another non-limiting example(not shown), support 102 may be formed integral with casing 36 forcoupling, positioning, and/or securing HGP components 100 to casing 36.Similar to turbine blades 38 and/or stator vanes 40, although only aportion of the stage of HGP components 100 of turbine 28 is shown inFIG. 2, turbine 28 may include a plurality of stages of HGP components100, positioned axially throughout casing 36 of turbine 28 and coupledto casing 26 using support 102.

Turning to FIG. 3, an enlarged portion of turbine 28 including HGPcomponent 100 and support 102 is shown. As discussed herein, HGPcomponent 100 and support 102 of turbine 28 may include variousadditional features that permit use of low pressure fluid (LPF), alongwith the high pressure fluid (HPF), to cool HGP component 100 duringoperation of turbine 28. The inclusion of these features in HGPcomponents 100 and/or support 102 may reduce the amount of high pressurefluid required to cool HGP component 100, which in turn reduces fuelconsumption and/or heat rate within turbine system 10 (see, FIG. 1).

As shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, support 102 may include a high pressure fluidchamber 104. High pressure fluid chamber 104 may be formed withinsupport 102, radially adjacent to, and/or radially outward from HGPcomponent 100. Additionally, and as discussed herein, high pressurefluid chamber 104 may be fluidly coupled and/or in fluid communicationwith features (e.g., nozzles) of HGP component 100. High pressure fluidchamber 104 may be formed in support 102 to receive high pressure fluid(HPF) flowing through and/or within turbine 28 that may be subsequentlyprovided to HGP component 100 during operation of gas turbine system 10(see, FIG. 1). In the non-limiting example shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, highpressure fluid (HPF) may be flowing within turbine 28 and/or turbinecasing 36. Specifically, the HPF may be flowing in and/or through area50 of turbine 28, substantially adjacent to and/or upstream of support102. The HPF may be any suitable fluid (e.g., air) flowing withinturbine 28 suitable to cool HGP component 100 during operation ofturbine system 10 (see, FIG. 1). In a non-limiting example, the HPF maybe fluid flowing from compressor discharge chamber (CDC) of turbine 28.

Support 102 may also include at least one high pressure supply conduit106 formed therein. High pressure supply conduit 106 may be in fluidcommunication with and/or fluidly coupled to high pressure fluid chamber104. That is, high pressure supply conduit 106 may be in fluidcommunication with area 50 containing the HPF, as well as high pressurefluid chamber 104. As a result, high pressure supply conduit 106 mayreceive the HPF flowing through area 50, and may provide the HPF to highpressure fluid chamber 104 of support 102. Once received from highpressure supply conduit 106, high pressure fluid chamber 104 may providethe HPF to HGP component 100, as discussed herein. Although shown in thenon-limiting example as only including a single high pressure supplyconduit 106, it is understood that support 102 may include a pluralityof high pressure supply conduits 106 (e.g., FIG. 7) for providing HPF toHGP component 100.

As shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, support 102 may also include at least one lowpressure supply conduit 108. Low pressure supply conduit(s) 108 may bein fluid communication with and/or fluidly coupled to an area 52 withinof turbine casing 36 that may contain a low pressure fluid (LPF). TheLPF may be flowing substantially adjacent to and/or downstream ofsupport 102 for turbine 28. As such, area 52 containing the LPF may beformed between support 102 and outer platform 200A of stator vane 40.Additionally as shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, and discussed herein, lowpressure supply conduit(s) 108 may be fluidly coupled to and/or in fluidcommunication with HGP component 100 to provide the LPF from area 52 toHGP component 100 during operation of turbine system 10 (see, FIG. 1).The LPF may be any suitable fluid (e.g., air) flowing within turbine 28to cool HGP component 100, as discussed herein. In a non-limitingexample, the LPF may be compressor extraction fluid of turbine 28flowing between turbine blades 38 and stator vanes 40.

In the non-limiting example shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, support 102 mayinclude and/or be formed as a single, continuous, and/or non-disjointedcomponent or part. In the non-limiting example, and because support 102is formed from a single, continuous, and/or non-disjointed component orpart, support 102 may not require the building, joining, coupling,and/or assembling of various parts to completely form support 102,and/or may not require building, joining, coupling, and/or assembling ofvarious parts before support 102 can be installed and/or implementedwithin turbine system 10 (see, FIG. 1). Rather, once single, continuous,and/or non-disjointed support 102 is built to include the variousfeatures therein (e.g., high pressure supply conduit 106, low pressuresupply conduit 108), support 102 may be immediately installed withinturbine system 10 and/or turbine casing 36.

In the non-limiting example, support 102, and the various featuresformed therein e.g., high pressure fluid chamber 104, high pressuresupply conduit 106, low pressure supply conduit 108), may be formedusing any suitable additive manufacturing process(es) and/or method. Forexample, support 102 may be formed by direct metal laser melting (DMLM)(also referred to as selective laser melting (SLM)), direct metal lasersintering (DMLS), electronic beam melting (EBM), stereolithography(SLA), binder jetting, or any other suitable additive manufacturingprocess(es). Additionally, support 102 may be formed from any materialthat may be utilized by additive manufacturing process(es), and/orcapable of withstanding the operational characteristics (e.g., exposuretemperature, exposure pressure, and the like) experienced by support 102within gas turbine system 10 during operation.

In another non-limiting example, support 102 may be formed as multipleand/or distinct portions or components. For example, support 102 may beformed from two distinct components or parts including at least aportion of the various features of support 102. The two componentsforming support 102 may be joined, coupled, and/or affixed to oneanother before support 102 is installed in turbine 28 within gas turbinesystem 10. Each component forming support 102, and the various featuresof support 102, may be formed using any suitable manufacturingprocess(es) and/or method. For example, support 102 including the two,distinct components may be formed by milling, turning, cutting, casting,molding, drilling, and the like. In a further non-limiting example,support 102 may be formed from a single piece of material by performingsuitable material removal or subtraction processes including, but notlimited to, milling, turning, cutting, drilling, and the like.

FIGS. 4-6 show various views of HGP component 100 of turbine 28 for gasturbine system 10 of FIG. 1. Specifically, FIG. 4 shows an isometricview of HGP component 100, FIG. 5 shows a cross-sectional side view ofHGP component 100 taken along line CS-CS in FIG. 4, and FIG. 6 shows anenlarged cross-sectional side view of a portion of HGP component 100 inFIG. 5.

HGP component 100 may include a body 110. In the non-limiting exampleshown in FIGS. 4 and 5, HGP component 100 may include and/or be formedas a unitary body 110 such that HGP component 100 is a single,continuous, and/or non-disjointed component or part. In the non-limitingexample shown in FIGS. 4 and 5, because HGP component 100 includes aunitary body, HGP component 100 may not require the building, joining,coupling, and/or assembling of various parts to completely form HGPcomponent 100, and/or may not require building, joining, coupling,and/or assembling of various parts before HGP component 100 can beinstalled and/or implemented within turbine system 10 (see, FIG. 1).Rather, once single, continuous, and/or non-disjointed unitary body 110for HGP component 100 is built, as discussed herein, HGP component 100may be immediately installed within turbine system 10.

In the non-limiting example, unitary body 110 of HGP component 100, andthe various components and/or features of HGP component 100, may beformed using any suitable additive manufacturing process(es) and/ormethod. For example, HGP component 100 including unitary body 110 may beformed by direct metal laser melting (DMLM) (also referred to asselective laser melting (SLM)), direct metal laser sintering (DMLS),electronic beam melting (EBM), stereolithography (SLA), binder jetting,or any other suitable additive manufacturing process(es). Additionally,unitary body 110 of HGP component 100 may be formed from any materialthat may be utilized by additive manufacturing process(es) to form HGPcomponent 100, and/or capable of withstanding the operationalcharacteristics (e.g., exposure temperature, exposure pressure, and thelike) experienced by HGP component 100 within gas turbine system 10during operation.

In another non-limiting example, body 110 of HGP component 100 may beformed as multiple and/or distinct portions or components (see, FIGS. 7and 8). For example, and as discussed herein, body 110 of HGP component100 may be formed from a first part that may include hooks 112, 118 andan inner surface, and a second part that may include the outer surface(and a portion of internal features) of HGP component 100. The twocomponents forming body 110 of HGP component 100 may be joined, coupled,and/or affixed to one another to form HGP component 100 before beinginstalled in turbine 28 within gas turbine system 10. Each componentforming body 110, and the various components and/or features of HGPcomponent 100, may be formed using any suitable manufacturingprocess(es) and/or method. For example, HGP component 100 including body110 including the two, distinct components may be formed by milling,turning, cutting, casting, molding, drilling, and the like.

HGP component 100 may also include various ends, sides, and/or surfaces.For example, and as shown in FIGS. 4 and 5, body 110 of HGP component100 may include a forward end 120 and an aft end 122 positioned oppositeforward end 120. Forward end 120 may be positioned upstream of aft end122, such that combustion gases 26 flowing through the flow path (FP)defined within turbine 28 may flow adjacent forward end 120 beforeflowing by adjacent aft end 122 of body 110 of HGP component 100. Asshown in FIGS. 3 and 4, forward end 120 may include first hook 112configured to be coupled to and/or engage support 102 of casing 36 forturbine 28 to couple, position, and/or secure HGP components 100 withincasing 36 (see, FIG. 2). Additionally, aft end 122 may include secondhook 118 positioned and/or formed on body 110 opposite first hook 112.Similar to first hook 112, second hook 118 may be configured to becoupled to and/or engage support 102 of casing 36 for turbine 28 tocouple, position, and/or secure HGP components 100 within casing 36(see, FIG. 2).

Additionally, body 110 of HGP component 100 may also include a firstside 124, and a second side 126 positioned opposite first side 124. Asshown in FIG. 4, first side 124 and second side 126 may extend and/or beformed between forward end 120 and aft end 122. First side 124 andsecond side 126 of body 110 may be substantially closed and/or mayinclude solid end walls or caps. As such, and as discussed herein, thesolid end walls of first side 124 and second side 126 may substantiallyprevent fluid within turbine 28 (e.g., combustion gases 26, coolingfluids) from entering HGP component 100, and/or cooling fluid fromexiting internal portions (e.g., passages, plenums) formed within HGPcomponent 100 via first side 124 and/or second side 126.

As shown in FIGS. 4 and 5 body 110 of HGP component 100 may also includean outer surface 128. In the non-limiting example, outer surface 128 mayface high pressure fluid chamber 104 formed between body 110 of HGPcomponent 100 and support 102 (see, FIG. 2). More specifically, outersurface 128 may be positioned, formed, face, and/or directly exposed inhigh pressure fluid chamber 104 formed within support 102. As discussedherein, high pressure fluid chamber 104 of support 102 may receiveand/or provide HPF to HGP component 100 during operation of turbine 28.In addition to facing high pressure fluid chamber 104, outer surface 128of body 110 for HGP component 100 may also be formed, extend, and/orpositioned between forward end 120 and aft end 122, as well as firstside 124 and second side 126, respectively.

Body 110 of HGP component 100 may also include inner surface 130 formedopposite outer surface 128. That is, and as shown in the non-limitingexample in FIGS. 4 and 5, inner surface 130 of body 110 of HGP component100 may be formed radially opposite and/or radially inward from outersurface 128. Briefly returning to FIG. 2, and with continued referenceto FIGS. 4 and 5, inner surface 130 may face the hot gas flow path (FP)of combustion gases 26 flowing through turbine 28 (see, FIG. 2). Morespecifically, inner surface 130 may be positioned, formed, face, and/ordirectly exposed to the hot gas flow path (FP) of combustion gases 26flowing through turbine casing 36 of turbine 28 for gas turbine system10. Additionally as shown in FIG. 2, inner surface 130 of body 110 forHGP component 100 may be positioned radially adjacent tip portion 48 ofairfoil 46. In addition to facing the hot gas flow path (FP) ofcombustion gases 26, and similar to outer surface 128, inner surface 130of body 110 for HGP component 100 may also be formed and/or positionedbetween forward end 120 and aft end 122, and first side 124 and secondside 126, respectively.

Turning to FIGS. 5 and 6, and with continued reference to FIGS. 2-4,additional features of HGP component 100 are now discussed. HGPcomponent 100 may include an inner portion 132. As shown in FIG. 5,inner portion 132 may be formed as an integral portion of unitary body110 for HGP component 100. Additionally, inner portion 132 may includeinner surface 130, and/or inner surface 130 may be formed on innerportion 132 of body 110 for HGP component 100. Inner portion 132 of body110 for HGP component 100 may be formed, positioned, and/or extendbetween forward end 120 and aft end 122, and first side 124 and secondside 126, respectively. Additionally, inner portion 132 may be formedintegral with the solid side walls formed on first side 124 and secondside 126 of body 110 (see, FIG. 4). Briefly returning to FIGS. 2 and 3,inner portion 132 of HGP component 100 may also be positioned adjacenthot gas flow path (FP) for turbine 28 of turbine system 10, and/or maybe radially adjacent and/or radially outward from tip portion 48 ofairfoil 46. As discussed herein, inner portion 132 of HGP component 100may at least partially form and/or define at least one cooling channelwithin HGP component 100.

HGP component 100 may include an outer portion 134 formed radiallyopposite inner portion 132. Similar to inner portion 132, as shown inFIG. 5, outer portion 134 may be formed as an integral portion ofunitary body 110 for HGP component 100. Outer portion 134 may includeouter surface 128, and/or outer surface 128 may be formed on outerportion 134 of body 110 for HGP component 100. Outer portion 134 of body110 for HGP component 100 may be formed, positioned, and/or extendbetween forward end 120 and aft end 122, and first side 124 and secondside 126, respectively. Additionally, and also similar to inner portion132, outer portion 134 may be formed integral with the solid side wallsformed on first side 124 and second side 126 of body 110. As shown inFIGS. 3 and 5, outer portion 134 may be formed (radially) adjacent highpressure fluid chamber 104 of support 102. Outer portion 134 of HGPcomponent 100 may at least partially form and/or define low pressurefluid channel within HGP component 100, as discussed herein.

As shown in the non-limiting example of FIG. 5, HGP component 100 mayalso include an intermediate portion 136. Intermediate portion 136 maybe formed (radially) between inner portion 132 and outer portion 134 ofunitary body 110 of HGP component 100. Similar to inner portion 132 andouter portion 134, and as shown in FIG. 5, intermediate portion 136 ofHGP component 100 may be formed as an integral portion of body 110 forHGP component 100. Intermediate portion 136 of body 110 for HGPcomponent 100 may be formed, positioned, and/or extend between forwardend 120 and aft end 122, and first side 124 and second side 126,respectively, and may be formed integral with the solid side wallsformed on first side 124 and second side 126 of body 110 (see, FIG. 4).

Inner portion 132, outer portion 134, and/or intermediate portion 136may at least partially form and/or define channels within HGP component100. For example, intermediate portion 136 and outer portion 134 maydefine and/or form a low pressure fluid channel 138 within HGP component100. More specifically, low pressure fluid channel 138 may be formedbetween intermediate portion 136 and outer portion 134 of unitary body110 for HGP component 100. Low pressure fluid channel 138 may extendsubstantially between forward end 120 and aft end 122, and first side124 and second side 126, respectively, of unitary body 110. As discussedherein, low pressure fluid channel 138 may receive LPF via an opening(s)140 formed through HGP component 100 and in fluid communication with lowpressure supply conduit(s) 108 (portion shown in phantom) of support102.

In the non-limiting example shown in FIG. 5, intermediate portion 136and inner portion 132 may also define and/or form a cooling channel 142within HGP component 100. That is, cooling channel 142 may be formedbetween intermediate portion 136 and inner portion 132 of unitary body110 for HGP component 100. Cooling channel 142 may extend substantiallybetween forward end 120 and aft end 122, and first side 124 and secondside 126, respectively, of body 110. As discussed herein, coolingchannel 142 may receive the HPF and low pressure fluid (LPF) to cool HGPcomponent 100 during operation of gas turbine system 10 (see, FIG. 1),and may subsequently expel or exhaust the HPF and LPF from HGP component10 via exhaust holes 144.

In order to provide the HPF and the LPF within the various portions(e.g., channels 138, 142) of HGP component 100 to cool the component,HGP component 100 and/or body 110 may also include a plurality and/orarray of openings formed therein. For example, outer portion 134 andintermediate portion 136 of HGP component 100 may each include aplurality and/or array of openings, nozzles, and/or venturi formedtherein and/or extending therethrough. In the non-limiting example shownin FIGS. 4-6, outer portion 134 may include a plurality of high pressureopenings or nozzles 146 (hereafter, “nozzles 146”) formed therein orextending therethrough. Each of the plurality of nozzles 146 may beformed through outer surface 128 and outer portion 134 of unitary body110 for HGP component 100. The plurality of nozzles 146 formed throughouter portion 134 may be in fluid communication with and/or fluidlycoupled to high pressure fluid chamber 104 of support 102. As a resultof being fluidly coupled to high pressure fluid chamber 104, each of theplurality of nozzles 146 may also be in fluid communication with the HPFflowing through turbine 28 and/or high pressure supply conduit(s) 106 ofsupport 102 (see, FIG. 3). Additionally, and as shown in FIG. 5, theplurality of nozzles 146 formed through outer portion 134 may fluidlycouple high pressure fluid chamber 104 of support 102 and low pressurefluid channel 138 of HGP component 100. As discussed herein, each of theplurality of nozzles 146 formed through outer portion 134 may receivethe HPF from the high pressure supply conduit 106 and/or high pressurefluid chamber 104 of support 102, and subsequently provide or flow theHPF to low pressure fluid channel 138 of HGP component 100.

Also shown in the non-limiting example of FIGS. 4-6, intermediateportion 136 may include a plurality of low pressure openings or venturi148 (hereafter, “venturi 148”) formed therein or extending therethrough.Each of the plurality of venturi 148 may be formed or extend throughintermediate portion 136 of unitary body 110 for HGP component 100. Theplurality of venturi 148 formed through intermediate portion 136 may bein fluid communication with and/or may fluidly couple low pressure fluidchannel 138 and cooling channel 142 formed within unitary body 110 forHGP component 100. Additionally, and because venturi 148 are in fluidcommunication with low pressure fluid channel 138, venturi 148 of HGPcomponent 100 may also be in fluid communication with the LPF flowingthrough low pressure fluid channel 138, and/or may be in fluidcommunication with low pressure supply conduit(s) 108 of support 102providing the LPF to low pressure fluid channel 138. As discussedherein, each of the plurality of venturi 148 formed through intermediateportion 136 may receive the LPF from low pressure fluid channel 138, andsubsequently provide or flow the LPF to cooling channel 142.Additionally, and as discussed herein, each of the plurality of venturi148 may receive the high pressure fluid (HPF) flowing through lowpressure fluid channel 138 via the plurality of nozzles 146, andsubsequently provide or flow the HPF to cooling channel 142. Asdiscussed herein, nozzles 146 of HGP component 100 may differ fromventuri 148 of HGP component 100 based on the size, shape, and/orconfiguration (e.g., the inclusion of a diffuser).

Turning to FIG. 6, and with continued reference to FIG. 5, an enlargedcross-section view of HGP component 100 including a single nozzle 146and a single venturi 148 is shown. In the non-limiting example shown inFIGS. 5 and 6, the plurality of nozzles 146 formed in outer portion 134and the plurality of venturi 148 formed in intermediate portion 136 ofHGP component 100 may be radially and/or concentrically aligned. Thatis, each of the plurality of nozzles 146 may be aligned and/orsubstantially concentric with a corresponding venturi 148. Additionally,and as shown in the non-limiting example FIG. 6, each of the pluralityof nozzles 146 formed in outer portion 134 may include a section 150that may extend into a corresponding venturi 148 formed in intermediateportion 136. Specifically, section 150 of may extend into and/or may bepositioned partially within and/or surrounded by the radially and/orconcentrically aligned, corresponding venturi 148 of HGP component 100.As discussed herein, section 150 of each nozzles 146 may extend intocorresponding venturi 148 to direct HPF through venturi 148.Additionally, or alternatively, section 150 of each nozzles 146 mayextend into corresponding venturi 148 to direct low pressure fluid (LPF)flowing through low pressure fluid channel 138 into venturi 148, and/orprevent the LPF from flowing radially outward through nozzles 146.

As shown in FIG. 6, each of the plurality of nozzles 146 may be sizeddifferently and/or may include a distinct dimension than the pluralityof venturi 148. That is, a dimension (e.g., diameter) of the pluralityof nozzles 146 may be distinct from a dimension of the plurality ofventuri 148. In the non-limiting example, each of the plurality ofnozzles 146 formed in outer portion 134 may include a first diameter(D₁) at the throat or neck (e.g., narrowest part) of the nozzle openingor configuration. Additionally, each of the plurality of venturi 148formed in intermediate portion 136 may include a second diameter (D₂) atthe throat (e.g., narrowest part) of the venturi opening orconfiguration. As shown in the non-limiting example in FIG. 6, thesecond diameter (D₂) of each venturi 148 may be greater or larger thanthe first diameter (D₁) of nozzle 146. In non-limiting examples thesecond diameter of venturi 148 may be at least twice as large (e.g., 2:1ratio or greater) than the first diameter (D₁) of nozzle 146. In othernon-limiting examples, the second diameter of venturi 148 may bemarginally larger (e.g., 10% larger) than the first diameter (D₁) ofnozzle 146. The size or dimension of each of the first diameter (D₁) andthe second diameter (D₂), as well as the difference between firstdiameter (D₁) and the second diameter (D₂) may improve the velocityand/or pressure of the HPF and LPF flowing through HGP component 100, asdiscussed herein.

It is understood that the size and/or number of nozzles 146 and venturi148 formed within HGP component 100, as shown in FIGS. 5 and 6, ismerely illustrative. As such, HGP component 100 may include larger orsmaller nozzles 146 and venturi 148, and/or may include more or lessnozzles 146 and venturi 148 formed therein. Additionally, although thenozzles 146 and venturi 148 are both shown to be substantially uniformin size and/or shape, it is understood that each of the plurality ofnozzles 146 and venturi 148 formed in HGP component 100 may includedistinct sizes and/or shapes. The size, shapes, and/or number of nozzles146 and venturi 148 formed in HGP component 100 may depend at least inpart on various parameters (e.g., exposure temperature, exposurepressure, position within turbine casing 36, HPF operationalpressure/temperature, LPF operational pressure/temperature, and thelike) of gas turbine system 10 during operation. Additionally, oralternatively, the size, shapes, and/or number of nozzles 146 andventuri 148 formed in HGP component 100 may be dependent, at least inpart on the characteristics (e.g., inner portion 132 thickness, outerportion 134 thickness, volume of cooling channel 142, and so on) of HGPcomponent 100.

Additionally as shown in FIG. 6, intermediate portion 136 of unitarybody 110 for HGP component 100 may also include a plurality of diffusers152. Each of the plurality of diffusers 152 may be formed integral witha corresponding venturi 148 formed through intermediate portion 136.That is, and as shown in FIG. 6, diffuser 152 may be formed integralwith each venturi 148 and may be positioned radially adjacent theventuri 148, and more specifically the throat (e.g., narrowest part) ofeach venturi 148. Diffuser 152 may also be formed adjacent and/or extendradially toward inner portion 132 of body 110 of HGP component 100. Inthe non-limiting example, diffuser 152 may include a diverging shape,geometry, and/or configuration that gets larger or wider as diffuser 152extends (radially) closer toward inner portion 132 of HGP component 100.In the non-limiting example, the largest dimension (e.g., diameter) ofdiffuser 152 may be formed at an end 154 radially adjacent inner portion132. End 154 of diffuser 152 may include a third diameter (D₃), that maybe larger or greater than first diameter (D₁) of nozzles 146 and seconddiameter (D₂) of venturi 148. In additional to the size or dimension ofeach of the first diameter (D₁) and the second diameter (D₂), the sizeof the third diameter (D₃) of each diffuser 152 of HGP component 100 mayincrease a static pressure of the HPF and LPF flowing through HGPcomponent 100, as discussed herein.

Furthermore, although discussed herein as being substantially circularand/or including distinct diameters (e.g., first diameter (D₁), thesecond diameter (D₂), and so on), it is understood that nozzles 146,venturi 148, and/or diffusers 152 may be formed from distinct shapes orconfigurations. As such, the dimensions of each of nozzles 146, venturi148, and diffusers 152 may not include a diameter. That is for example,nozzles 146, venturi 148, and/or diffusers 152 may be substantiallysquare or polygonal. In these non-limiting examples, each of nozzles146, venturi 148, and diffusers 152 may include unique and/or distinctareas (e.g., dimension). More specifically, the throat of nozzles 146may include a first area (A₁), the throat of venturi 148 may include asecond area (A₂) that may be larger than the first area (A₁) of nozzles146, and diffusers 152 may include a third area (A₃) that is larger thanboth the first area (A₁) and the second area (A₂), respectively.

Additionally as shown in FIGS. 4-6, HGP component 100 may also include aplurality of support pins 156. Specifically, body 110 of HGP component100 may include a plurality of support pins 156 positioned/extendingbetween, and formed integral with inner portion 132 and intermediateportion 136, as well as intermediate portion 136 and outer portion 134.As shown in FIGS. 5 and 6, the plurality of support pins 156 extendingbetween inner portion 132 and intermediate portion 136 may also bepositioned within cooling channel 142, and the plurality of support pins156 extending between intermediate portion 136 and outer portion 134 maybe positioned within low pressure fluid channel 138. The plurality ofsupport pins 156 may be positioned throughout body 110 for HGP component100 to provide support, structure, and/or rigidity to inner portion 132,outer portion 134, and/or intermediate portion 136. The inclusion of theplurality of support pins 156 extending between and/or be formedintegral with inner portion 132, outer portion 134, and/or intermediateportion 136 provides additional support, structure, and/or rigidity tothe various portions of HGP component 100, and may substantially preventvibration of the same during operation of gas turbine system 10. Inaddition to providing support, structure, and/or rigidity to innerportion 132, outer portion 134, and/or intermediate portion 136, theplurality of support pins 156 positioned within low pressure fluidchannel 138 and/or cooling channel 142 may also aid in the heat transferand/or cooling of HGP component 100 during operation of gas turbinesystem 10 (see, FIG. 1), as discussed herein. The plurality of supportpins 156 may be formed integral with inner portion 132, outer portion134, and/or intermediate portion 136 when forming unitary body 110 ofHGP component 100 using any suitable additive manufacturing process(es)and/or method.

The size, shape, and/or number of support pins 156 positioned within HGPcomponent 100, as shown in FIGS. 4-6, is merely illustrative. As such,HGP component 100 may include larger or smaller support pins 156,varying sized support pins 156, and/or may include more or less supportpins 156 formed therein. The size, shapes, and/or number of support pins156 formed in HGP component 100 may be dependent, at least in part onthe operational characteristics (e.g., exposure temperature, exposurepressure, position within turbine casing 36, and the like) of gasturbine system 10 during operation. Additionally, or alternatively, thesize, shapes, and/or number of support pins 156 formed in HGP component100 may be dependent, at least in part on the characteristics (e.g.,inner portion 132 thickness, outer portion 134 thickness, height ofchannels 138, 142, and so on) of HGP component 100.

With reference to FIGS. 3-6, an example flow path of HPF and LPF throughHGP component 100 is described. Specifically in FIGS. 3, 5 and 6, theflow direction of the fluid may be represented by arrows and may belabeled as “HPF” and “LPF.”

In the non-limiting example, HPF may flow from area 50, through highpressure supply conduit 106 (see, FIG. 3), and into high pressure fluidchamber 104 of support 102. From high pressure fluid chamber 104, theHPF may flow through the plurality of nozzles 146 formed through outerportion 134. In the non-limiting example where nozzles 146 are radiallyaligned and/or concentric with venturi 148, the HPF may flow directlyinto and/or through the venturi 148 formed through intermediate portion136. The HPF may mix with and substantially energize or increase thevelocity of the LPF also flowing through venturi 148. The HPF may flowthrough the venturi 148, may be diffused by diffuser 152 of intermediateportion 136, and may flow to cooling channel 142 of HGP component 100.Once inside cooling channel 142, the mixture of HPF and LPF maysubstantially cool inner portion 132 of HGP component 100 and may flowthrough cooling channel 142 toward forward end 120 or aft end 122 beforebeing exhausted from HGP component via exhaust holes 144 of coolingchannel 142.

Simultaneous to and/or independently of the HPF flowing through HGPcomponent 100, LPF may be provided to and flow through HGP component 100as well. LPF may flow from area 52, through low pressure supplyconduit(s) 108 of support 102 (see, FIG. 3). In the non-limitingexample, low pressure supply conduit 108 may be in direct fluidcommunication with opening 140 of low pressure fluid channel 138 formedthrough aft end 122 of HGP component 100. Additionally, and as shown inphantom, a distinct low pressure supply conduit 108 may be in directfluid communication with a distinct opening 140 of low pressure fluidchannel 138 formed through forward end 120 of HGP component 100. Assuch, LPF may be provided on opposite sides or ends of low pressurefluid channel 138. Once provided to low pressure fluid channel 138, theLPF may flow through the plurality of venturi 148 formed throughintermediate portion 136. In the non-limiting example where section 150(see, FIG. 6) of nozzles 146 extends into venturi 148, nozzles 146 maydirect the LPF through venturi 148. Additionally where nozzles 146 areradially aligned and/or concentric with venturi 148 the LPF may flowdirectly into venturi 148 and may mix with the HPF and substantially becharge or experience an increase in velocity when flowing throughventuri 148. Similar to the HPF the LPF may flow through the venturi148, may be diffused by diffuser 152 of intermediate portion 136, andmay flow to cooling channel 142 of HGP component 100. Once insidecooling channel 142, the LPF, along with the HPF, may substantially coolinner portion 132 of HGP component 100 and may flow through coolingchannel 142 toward forward end 120 or aft end 122 before being exhaustedfrom HGP component via exhaust holes 144 and 145 of cooling channel 142(see, FIG. 5).

FIGS. 7 and 8 show various views of another non-limiting example ofturbine 28 including HGP component 100 and support 102. Specifically,FIG. 7 shows an enlarged side view of a non-limiting example of aportion of turbine 28 of gas turbine system 10 (see, FIG. 1) includingHGP component 100 coupled to support 102, and FIG. 8 shows across-sectional side view of another non-limiting example of HGPcomponent 100 shown in FIG. 7. It is understood that similarly numberedand/or named components may function in a substantially similar fashion.Redundant explanation of these components has been omitted for clarity.

As shown in FIG. 7, and with comparison to the non-limiting examplediscussed herein with respect to FIG. 3, support 102 may not includehigh pressure fluid chamber 104 (see, FIG. 3). Rather support 102 may beformed as a substantially solid and/or continuous component or part thatmay abut or contact outer surface 128 of HGP component 100, and mayinclude a plurality of supply conduits formed therein. In thenon-limiting example shown in FIG. 7, support 102 may include aplurality of high pressure supply conduits 106, and a single lowpressure supply conduit 108 formed therein. The plurality of highpressure supply conduits 106 may extend through support 102, e.g., toforward end 120 or aft end 122 of HGP component 100. Additionally, eachof the plurality of high pressure supply conduits 106 may be in directfluid communication and/or fluidly coupled directly to HGP component100. That is, each of the plurality of high pressure supply conduit 106of support 102 may be in fluid communication and/or fluidly coupled toarea 50 and a channel (e.g., high pressure fluid channel) (see, FIG. 8)of HGP component 100. As discussed herein, high pressure supply conduits106 may provide the high pressure fluid (HPF) from area 50 to HGPcomponent 100 during operation of gas turbine system 10 (see, FIG. 1).

Turning to FIG. 8, and with continued reference to FIG. 7, HGP component100 may include additional features and/or components when utilized inturbine 28. For example, and as discussed herein, HGP component 100 maynot be formed from a unitary body 110. Rather, HGP component 100 may beformed from a first part 157, and a distinct, second part 158. Morespecifically, HGP component 100 may be formed from and/or include firstpart 157 and second part 158 that may be joined, coupled, and/or affixedto first part 157. As shown in FIG. 8, first part 157 of HGP component100 may include hooks 112, 118, inner surface 130 and inner portion 132of HGP component 100. Additionally in the non-limiting example, firstpart 157 of HGP component 100 may include a portion of low pressurefluid channel(s) 138 including opening(s) 140 and a portion of a highpressure fluid channel(s) 160 including opening(s) 162, as discussedherein.

Second part 158 may include distinct features and/or portions of HGPcomponent 100 than first part 157. For example, second part 158 mayinclude outer portion 134, intermediate portion 136, and a top plate 159including outer surface 128 of HGP component 100, as discussed herein.Additionally in the non-limiting example, second part 158 may alsoinclude nozzles 146 formed through outer portion 134, venturi 148 formedthrough intermediate portion 136, and a plurality of support pins 156extending between and/or from outer portion 134, intermediate portion136, and top plate 159, respectively. As shown in FIG. 8, second part158 may also include a portion of low pressure fluid channel(s) 138formed between outer portion 134 and intermediate portion 136, as wellas a portion of high pressure fluid channel(s) 160 formed between outerportion 134 and top plate 159. Cooling channel 142 may be formed betweenfirst part 157 and second part 158, and more specifically, intermediateportion 136 of second part 158 and inner portion 132 of first part 157.

In the non-limiting example shown in FIG. 8, first part 157 and secondpart 158 may be formed from distinct materials. For example, first part157 including hooks 112, 118 and inner portion 132 may be formed from afirst metal or alloy having a first set of material properties and/orcharacteristics (e.g., melting point, heat transfer characteristics,hardness, ductility, and the like), while second part 158 may be formedfrom a second metal or allow having a second set of material propertiesand/or characteristics. Alternatively, first part 157 and second part158 may be formed from identical materials. Each of first part 157 andsecond part 158 may each be formed individually and/or separately usingany suitable manufacturing process including, but not limited tomilling, turning, cutting, casting, molding, drilling, and the like.Additionally, first part 157 and second part 158 may be joined, coupled,and/or affixed to one another to form HGP component 100 using anysuitable joining process or technique including, but not limited to,welding, fastening, melting, sintering, brazing, and the like.

In the non-limiting example shown in FIG. 8, HGP component 100 may alsoinclude top plate 159 formed radially outward, radially adjacent, and/orradially above outer portion 134 of second part 158. Additionally asshown in FIGS. 7 and 8, top plate 159 may be positioned radially inwardfrom and/or may substantially contact or abut a portion of support 102.Top plate 159 may be formed from a substantially solid or continuous(e.g., no openings or venturi) component that may be formed, extend,and/or positioned substantially between forward end 120 and aft end 122,as well as first side 124 and second side 126, respectively. In thenon-limiting example discussed herein, top plate 159 may be part of orformed in second part 158 forming HGP component 100. In othernon-limiting examples (not shown), top plate 159 may be separatecomponent or part of HGP component 100 that may be joined, coupled,and/or affixed to first part 157 and/or second part 158 to form HGPcomponent 100.

Additionally as shown in FIG. 8, HGP component 100 may also include highpressure fluid channel 160. High pressure fluid channel 160 may beformed between outer portion 134 and top plate 159. That is, top plate159 and outer portion 134 for HGP component 100 may define and/or formhigh pressure fluid channel 160 within HGP component 100. High pressurefluid channel 160 may extend substantially between forward end 120 andaft end 122, and first side 124 and second side 126, respectively, ofHGP component 100. High pressure fluid channel 160 may include openings162 extending through first part 157 of HGP component 100 and/or formedadjacent forward end 120 or aft end 122 of HGP component 100. Openings162 may be fluidly coupled to a respective high pressure supply conduit106 (portion shown in phantom) to receive HPF from high pressure supplyconduits 106 of support 102 and subsequently supply the HPF to highpressure fluid channel 160. High pressure fluid channel 160 may supplyor provide the HPF to the plurality of nozzles 146 formed through outerportion 134. As similarly discussed herein, the HPF may flow through thenozzles 146 to mix with and substantially energize or increase thevelocity of the LPF as it flows through venturi 148. The HPF may beprovided to cooling channel 142 of HGP component 100 before beingexhausted from HGP component 100 via the array of openings 145.

FIG. 9 shows another non-limiting example of an enlarged side view of aportion of turbine 28 of gas turbine system 10 (see, FIG. 1) includingHGP component 100 coupled to support 102. In the non-limiting example,HGP component 100 may be formed as unitary body 110, as similarlydiscussed herein with respect to FIGS. 3-5. Additionally, in thenon-limiting example, support 102 may only include a single highpressure supply conduit 106. High pressure supply conduit 106 may beformed and/or extend through support 102 from area 50 to adjacentforward end 120 of unitary body 110 for HGP component 100. As similarlydiscussed herein, high pressure supply conduit 106 of support 102 may bein fluid communication and/or fluidly coupled to area 50 and HGPcomponent 100 (e.g., high pressure fluid channel 160) (see, FIG. 8) toprovide the high pressure fluid (HPF) from area 50 to HGP component 100during operation of gas turbine system 10 (see, FIG. 1).

Additionally in the non-limiting example shown in FIG. 9, support 102may include a low pressure fluid chamber 164. Low pressure fluid chamber164 may be formed within support 102, radially adjacent to, and/orradially outward from HGP component 100. Low pressure fluid chamber 164may be formed in support 102 to receive low pressure fluid (LPF) flowingthrough and/or within area 52 of turbine 28 that may be subsequentlyprovided to HGP component 100 during operation of gas turbine system 10(see, FIG. 1). For example, low pressure fluid chamber 164 may befluidly coupled to and/or in fluid communication with at least one lowpressure inlet 166, and at least one low pressure supply conduit 108formed within support 102. In the non-limiting example low pressureinlet 166 may be in fluid communication with and/or fluidly coupled toarea 52 within of turbine casing 36 that may contain LPF, and may be influid communication with and/or fluidly coupled to low pressure fluidchamber 164. Low pressure inlet 166 may receive the LPF from area 52 andprovide the LPF to low pressure fluid chamber 164. Once received in lowpressure fluid chamber 164, the LPF may be provided to the at least onelow pressure supply conduit 108, and subsequently provided to lowpressure fluid channel 138 (see, FIG. 5) of HGP component 100 via lowpressure supply conduit 108, as similarly discussed herein.

FIGS. 10 and 11 show various views of another non-limiting example ofturbine 28 including HGP component 100 and support 102. Specifically,FIG. 10 shows an enlarged side view of a non-limiting example of aportion of turbine 28 of gas turbine system 10 (see, FIG. 1) includingHGP component 100 coupled to support 102, and FIG. 11 shows across-sectional side view of another non-limiting example of HGPcomponent 100 shown in FIG. 10. It is understood that similarly numberedand/or named components may function in a substantially similar fashion.Redundant explanation of these components has been omitted for clarity.

Similar to the non-limiting example shown in FIG. 9, support 102 mayinclude low pressure fluid chamber 164. Low pressure fluid chamber 164may be formed in support 102 radially adjacent to, and/or radiallyoutward from HGP component 100. As discussed herein, low pressure fluidchamber 164 may receive low pressure fluid (LPF) flowing through and/orwithin area 52 of turbine 28. In the non-limiting example, low pressurefluid chamber 164 may be fluidly coupled to and/or in direct fluidcommunication with low pressure supply conduit 108 formed within support102. Low pressure supply conduit 108 may be in fluid communication withand/or fluidly coupled to area 52 within of turbine casing 36 that maycontain LPF, and may provide LPF to low pressure fluid chamber 164.

However, the non-limiting example shown in FIGS. 10 and 11 includes HGPcomponent 100 and/or support 102 having distinct configurations thanother non-limiting examples of HGP component 100 and/or support 102discussed herein. For example, and distinct from the non-limitingexample shown in FIG. 9, low pressure fluid chamber 164 may be fluidlycoupled and/or in direct fluid communication with features of HGPcomponent 100. More specifically, and as shown in FIGS. 10 and 11, lowpressure fluid chamber 164 may be formed (radially) adjacent outerportion 134 of HGP component 100 such that outer portion 134 of HGPcomponent 100 may at least partially form and/or define low pressurefluid chamber 164 within HGP component 100. Additionally, low pressurefluid chamber 164 may be fluidly coupled and/or in direct fluidcommunication with the plurality of nozzles 146 formed or extendingthrough outer portion 134 of HGP component 100. As a result of beingformed radially adjacent to and in direct fluid communication with theplurality of nozzles 146 extending through outer portion 134, lowpressure fluid chamber 164 may provide LFP to each of the plurality ofnozzles 146 when cooling HGP component 100, as discussed herein.

Support 102 may also include at least one high pressure supply conduit106 formed therein. High pressure supply conduit 106 may be in directfluid communication with and/or fluidly coupled to area 50 containingthe HPF, as well as HGP component 100. More specifically, and as shownin FIGS. 10 and 11, high pressure supply conduit 106 may be in fluidcommunication with and/or may fluidly couple area 50 of turbine 28 (see,FIG. 10) and high pressure fluid channel 160 of HGP component 100 (see,FIG. 11) to provide HPF from area 50 to high pressure fluid channel 160of HGP component 100. In the non-limiting example shown in FIG. 11, highpressure supply conduit 106 may be in fluid communication with highpressure fluid channel 160 via opening 162 formed through forward end120 of HGP component 100. As a result of low pressure fluid chamber 164being in direct fluid communication with nozzles 146, and distinct fromthe non-limiting examples discussed herein (e.g., FIG. 9), high pressurefluid channel 160 may be formed between and/or defined by outer portion134 and intermediate portion 136 of body 110 for HGP component 100. Eachof the plurality of venturi 148 formed or extending through intermediateportion 136 may in turn be fluidly coupled and/or in direct fluidcommunication with high pressure fluid channel 160 and may receive HPFwhen cooling HGP component 100, as discussed herein.

With reference to FIGS. 10 and 11, an example flow path of LPF and HPFthrough HGP component 100 is described. In the non-limiting example, LPFmay flow from area 52, through low pressure supply conduit(s) 108 ofsupport 102 (see, FIG. 10) to low pressure fluid chamber 164. From lowpressure fluid chamber 164, the LPF may flow through the plurality ofnozzles 146 formed through outer portion 134. In the non-limitingexample where nozzles 146 are radially aligned and/or concentric withventuri 148, the LPF may flow directly into and/or through the venturi148 formed through intermediate portion 136. Additionally oralternatively, LPF may flow from each of the plurality of nozzles 146include high pressure fluid channel 160 formed between outer portion 134and intermediate portion 136 of HGP component 100 shown in FIG. 11. TheLPF may mix with and substantially be energized or increase in velocitywith the HPF also flowing through venturi 148, as discussed herein. TheLPF may flow through the venturi 148, may be diffused by diffuser 152 ofintermediate portion 136, and may flow to cooling channel 142 of HGPcomponent 100. Once inside cooling channel 142, the mixture of LPF andHPF may substantially cool inner portion 132 of HGP component 100 andmay flow through cooling channel 142 toward forward end 120 or aft end122 before being exhausted from HGP component via exhaust holes 144 ofcooling channel 142.

Simultaneous to and/or independently of the LPF flowing through HGPcomponent 100, HPF may flow from area 50, through high pressure supplyconduit 106 formed in support 102 (see, FIG. 10). High pressure supplyconduit 106 may be in direct fluid communication with opening 162 ofhigh pressure fluid channel 160 formed through forward end 120 of HGPcomponent 100. Once provided to high pressure fluid channel 160, the HPFmay flow through the plurality of venturi 148 formed throughintermediate portion 136. In the non-limiting example where a section(e.g., section 150; see, FIG. 6) of nozzles 146 extends into venturi148, nozzles 146 may direct the HPF through venturi 148. Additionallywhere nozzles 146 are radially aligned and/or concentric with venturi148 the HPF may flow directly into venturi 148 and may mix with the LPF.HPF flowing through high pressure fluid channel 160 and/or venturi 148may substantially charge or increase the velocity of LPF flowing throughventuri 148 from nozzles 146. Similar to the LPF, the HPF may flowthrough the venturi 148, may be diffused by diffuser 152 of intermediateportion 136, and may flow to cooling channel 142 of HGP component 100.Once inside cooling channel 142, the HPF, along with the LPF, maysubstantially cool inner portion 132 of HGP component 100 and may flowthrough cooling channel 142 toward forward end 120 or aft end 122 beforebeing exhausted from HGP component via exhaust holes 144 and 145 ofcooling channel 142 (see, FIG. 11).

FIGS. 12 and 13 show various views of another non-limiting example ofturbine 28 including HGP component 100 and support 102. Specifically,FIG. 12 shows an enlarged side view of a non-limiting example of aportion of turbine 28 of gas turbine system 10 (see, FIG. 1) includingHGP component 100 coupled to support 102, and FIG. 13 shows across-sectional side view of another non-limiting example of HGPcomponent 100 shown in FIG. 12. It is understood that similarly numberedand/or named components may function in a substantially similar fashion.Redundant explanation of these components has been omitted for clarity.

Similar to the non-limiting example shown in FIG. 7, support 102 shownin the non-limiting example of FIG. 12 may not include an internalpressure chamber (e.g., high pressure fluid chamber 104, low pressurefluid chamber 164). As such, and similar to FIGS. 7 and 8, HGP component100 may include a top plate 159 formed radially outward, radiallyadjacent, and/or radially above outer portion 134 of HGP component 100.Top plate 159 may be positioned radially inward from and/or maysubstantially contact or abut a portion of support 102, as shown in FIG.12.

However, the non-limiting example shown in FIGS. 12 and 13 includes HGPcomponent 100 and/or support 102 having distinct configurations thanother non-limiting examples (e.g., FIGS. 7 and 8) of HGP component 100and/or support 102 discussed herein. For example, although support 102includes high pressure supply conduit 106, and low pressure supplyconduit 108, each supply conduit 106, 108 may be formed through support102 in distinct areas and/or may be fluidly coupled to distinct portionsof HGP component 100 than the non-limiting example discussed herein withrespect to FIGS. 7 and 8. Specifically, support 102 may include a singlehigh pressure supply conduit 106 formed therein. High pressure supplyconduits 106 may extend through support 102, to adjacent forward end 120of HGP component 100. High pressure supply conduit 106 may be in directfluid communication and/or fluidly coupled directly to HGP component100, and area 50, respectively, to provide HPF from area 50 to HGPcomponent 100 during operation of gas turbine system 10 (see, FIG. 1).In the non-limiting example, high pressure supply conduit 106 may befluidly coupled to and/or in direct fluid communication with highpressure fluid channel 160 via opening 162 (see, FIG. 13) formed throughforward end 120 of HGP component 100. As shown in FIGS. 12 and 13, andsimilar to the non-limiting example shown in FIGS. 10 and 11, highpressure fluid channel 160 may be formed between and/or defined by outerportion 134 and intermediate portion 136 of body 110 for HGP component100. Each of the plurality of venturi 148 formed or extending throughintermediate portion 136 may in turn be fluidly coupled and/or in directfluid communication with high pressure fluid channel 160 and may receiveHPF when cooling HGP component 100. That is, HPF may flow from highpressure supply conduit 106 directly to high pressure fluid channel 160,and subsequently through the plurality of venturi 148 extending throughintermediate portion 136. As similarly discussed herein with respect toFIGS. 10 and 11, HPF flowing through the plurality of venturi 148 maymix with LPF provided by the plurality of nozzles 146, into coolingchannel 142 before being discharged from HGP component 100.

Additionally as shown in the non-limiting example of FIG. 12, support102 may include a plurality of low pressure supply conduits 108. Theplurality of low pressure supply conduits 108 may extend through support102 toward forward end 120 and aft end 122, respectively, of HGPcomponent 100. Additionally, each of the plurality of low pressuresupply conduits 108 may be in direct fluid communication and/or fluidlycoupled directly to HGP component 100. That is, each of the plurality oflow pressure supply conduit 108 of support 102 may be in fluidcommunication and/or fluidly coupled to area 50, as well as low pressurefluid channel 138, via opening 140 (see, FIG. 13), of HGP component 100.As shown in FIGS. 12 and 13, low pressure fluid channel 138 may beformed between and/or defined by outer portion 134 and top plate 159 ofbody 110 for HGP component 100. Each of the plurality of nozzles 146formed or extending through outer portion 134 may in turn be fluidlycoupled and/or in direct fluid communication with low pressure fluidchannel 138 and may receive LPF when cooling HGP component 100. That is,LPF may flow from each of the plurality of low pressure supply conduits108 directly to low pressure fluid channel 138, and subsequently throughthe plurality of nozzles 146 extending through outer portion 134. Fromthe plurality of nozzles 146, and as similarly discussed herein withrespect to FIGS. 10 and 11, LPF flowing through the plurality of nozzles146 may flow into the plurality of venturi 148, and may mix with HPF,before flowing into cooling channel 142 and being discharged from HGPcomponent 100.

FIGS. 14 and 15 show additional views of another non-limiting example ofHGP component 200 included in turbine 28 of gas turbine system 10.Specifically, FIG. 14 shows a side view of a portion of turbine 28including two stages of turbine blades 38, and a stage of stator vanes40 including HGP components 200A, 200B positioned within casing 36 ofturbine 28, and FIG. 15 shows an enlarged portion of turbine 28including HGP component 200A and support 202. It is understood thatsimilarly numbered and/or named components may function in asubstantially similar fashion. Redundant explanation of these componentshas been omitted for clarity.

In the non-limiting example shown in FIGS. 14 and 15, and as discussedherein with respect to FIG. 2, HGP components 200A, 200B may be formedas an outer platform and inner platform, respectively, of stator vane40, and may be coupled and/or affixed to airfoil 42 of stator vane 40.Additionally as discussed herein, support 202 may extend radially inwardfrom casing 36 of turbine 28, and may be configured to be coupled toand/or receive HGP component 200A (e.g., outer platform) of stator vanes40 to couple, position, and/or secure stator vanes 40 to and/or withincasing 36. In this non-limiting example shown in FIGS. 14 and 15, andsimilar to HGP component 100 and turbine shroud discussed herein (see,FIGS. 2-13), HGP component 200A and outer platform of stator vane 40 maybe used interchangeably, and HGP component 200B and inner platform maybe used interchangeably.

As shown in FIGS. 14 and 15, HGP components 200A, 200B and support 202may be surrounded by high pressure fluid (HPF) and low pressure fluid(LPF) flowing within turbine 28. Specifically, area 52 positionedupstream of HGP component 200A and support 202 may include LPF, whilearea 50 positioned downstream of HGP component 200A and support 202 mayinclude HPF. Additionally, area 52 positioned upstream of HGP component200B may include LPF, and area 50 positioned downstream of HGP component200B may include HPF.

Similar to HGP component 100 (e.g., turbine shroud) and support 102discussed herein, HGP component 200A and support 202 may be configuredto and/or may include features that may allow HGP component 200A to becooled using HPF and LPF. For example, and as shown in FIG. 15, support202 may include at least one high pressure supply conduit 206 formedtherein. High pressure supply conduit 206 may be in fluid communicationwith and/or fluidly coupled to area 50 containing the HPF, as well asHGP component 200A. High pressure supply conduit 206 may receive the HPFflowing through area 50, and may provide the HPF directly to HGPcomponent 200A, as discussed herein. Although shown in the non-limitingexample as only including a single high pressure supply conduit 206, itis understood that support 202 may include a plurality of high pressuresupply conduits 206 for providing HPF to HGP component 200A.

Support 202 may also include at least one low pressure supply conduit208. Low pressure supply conduit(s) 208 may be in fluid communicationwith and/or fluidly coupled to area 52 containing LPF. As shown in FIG.15, and discussed herein, low pressure supply conduit(s) 208 may befluidly coupled to and/or in fluid communication with HGP component 200Ato provide the LPF from area 52 to HGP component 200A during operationof turbine system 10 (see, FIG. 1).

HGP component 200A (e.g., outer platform) may also include a bodyincluding a plurality of surfaces, portions, fluid channels, nozzles,and venturi that may be used to cool HGP component 200A using HPF andLPF flowing through turbine 28. For example, and as shown in FIG. 15,HGP component 200A may include body 210. In the non-limiting exampleshown in FIG. 1, HGP component 200A may include and/or be formed as aunitary body 210 such that HGP component 200A is a single, continuous,and/or non-disjointed component or part. In the non-limiting example,unitary body 210 of HGP component 200A, and the various componentsand/or features of HGP component 200A, may be formed using any suitableadditive manufacturing process(es) and/or method, as similarly discussedherein. In another non-limiting example, body 210 of HGP component 200Amay be formed as multiple and/or distinct portions or components (notshown), as similarly discussed herein (see, FIGS. 7 and 8).

HGP component 200A may also include inner surface 230 positioned,formed, facing, directly exposed to, and/or partially defining the hotgas flow path (FP) of combustion gases 26 flowing through turbine casing36 of turbine 28 for gas turbine system 10. Inner surface 230 of body210 for HGP component 200A may be positioned radially adjacent toairfoil 42 of stator vane 40. In addition to facing the hot gas flowpath (FP) of combustion gases 26, inner surface 230 of body 210 may alsobe formed and/or positioned between forward end 220 and aft end 222 ofHGP component 200A.

As shown in FIG. 15, HGP component 200A may also include may include aninner portion 232. Inner portion 232 may be formed as an integralportion of (unitary) body 210 for HGP component 200A. Additionally,inner portion 232 may include inner surface 230, and/or inner surface230 may be formed on inner portion 232 of body 210 for HGP component200A. Inner portion 232 of body 210 for HGP component 200A may beformed, positioned, and/or extend between forward end 220 and aft end222, and opposite sides (not shown) of HGP component 200A. Additionally,inner portion 232 may be formed integral with the solid side wallsformed on the sides of body 210 (not shown). Inner portion 232 of HGPcomponent 200A may also be positioned adjacent hot gas flow path (FP)for turbine 28 of turbine system 10.

HGP component 200A may also include an outer portion 234 formed radiallyopposite inner portion 232. Similar to inner portion 232, outer portion234 may be formed as an integral portion of unitary body 210 for HGPcomponent 200A. Outer portion 234 of body 210 for HGP component 200A maybe formed, positioned, and/or extend between forward end 220 and aft end222, and opposite sides (not shown) of body 210, respectively. Outerportion 234 of HGP component 200A may at least partially form and/ordefine various fluid channels within HGP component 200A, as discussedherein.

As shown in the non-limiting example of FIG. 15, HGP component 200A mayalso include an intermediate portion 236. Intermediate portion 236 maybe formed (radially) between inner portion 232 and outer portion 234 ofunitary body 210 of HGP component 200A. Similar to inner portion 232 andouter portion 234, and as shown in FIG. 1, intermediate portion 236 ofHGP component 200A may be formed as an integral portion of body 210 forHGP component 200A. Intermediate portion 236 of body 210 for HGPcomponent 200A may be formed, positioned, and/or extend between forwardend 220 and aft end 222, and opposite sides of body 210, and may beformed integral with the solid side walls formed on the opposite sides(not shown).

HGP component 200A may also include top plate 259 formed radiallyoutward, radially adjacent, and/or radially above outer portion 234 ofbody 210. Top plate 259 may be positioned radially inward from and/ormay substantially contact or abut a portion of support 202. Top plate259 may be formed from a substantially solid or continuous (e.g., noopenings or venturi) component that may be formed, extend, and/orpositioned substantially between forward end 220 and aft end 222, aswell as opposite sides of body 210, respectively. In the non-limitingexample, top plate 259 may form and/or define outer surface 228 of HGPcomponent 200A.

Inner portion 232, outer portion 234, intermediate portion 236, and/ortop plate 259 may at least partially form and/or define channels withinHGP component 200A. For example, intermediate portion 236 and outerportion 234 may define and/or form a low pressure fluid channel 238within HGP component 200A. More specifically, low pressure fluid channel238 may be formed between intermediate portion 236 and outer portion 234of unitary body 210 for HGP component 200A. Low pressure fluid channel238 may extend substantially between forward end 220 and aft end 222,and opposite sides of unitary body 210. As discussed herein, lowpressure fluid channel 238 may receive LPF via an opening(s) formedthrough HGP component 200A and in fluid communication with low pressuresupply conduit(s) 208 of support 202.

In the non-limiting example shown in FIG. 15, intermediate portion 236and inner portion 232 may also define and/or form a cooling channel 242within HGP component 200A. That is, cooling channel 242 may be formedbetween intermediate portion 236 and inner portion 232 of unitary body210 for HGP component 200A. Cooling channel 242 may extend substantiallybetween forward end 220 and aft end 222, and opposite sides (not shown)of body 210. Cooling channel 238 may receive the HPF and low pressurefluid (LPF) to cool HGP component 200A during operation of gas turbinesystem 10 (see, FIG. 1), and may subsequently expel or exhaust the HPFand LPF from HGP component 10 via exhaust holes 244, 245.

HGP component 200A may also include high pressure fluid channel 260.High pressure fluid channel 260 may be formed between outer portion 234and top plate 259. That is, top plate 259 and outer portion 234 for HGPcomponent 200A may define and/or form high pressure fluid channel 260within HGP component 200A. High pressure fluid channel 260 may extendsubstantially between forward end 220 and aft end 222, and oppositesides of body 210. High pressure fluid channel 260 may include anopening(s) fluidly coupled to high pressure supply conduit 206 toreceive HPF from high pressure supply conduits 206 of support 202 andsubsequently supply the HPF to high pressure fluid channel 260. Inanother non-limiting example (not shown), HGP component 200A may notinclude top plate 259. As such, high pressure fluid channel 260 may beformed between outer portion 234 and support 202, and may be in directfluid communication with high pressure supply conduit 206 for receivingHPF, as discussed herein.

Additionally, and similar to HGP component 100 discussed herein withrespect to FIGS. 2-9, HGP component 200A may include a plurality ofnozzles 246 and venturi 248 formed therein. For example, outer portion234 of HGP component 200A may include a plurality of openings or nozzles246 (hereafter, “nozzles 146”) formed therein or therethrough. Each ofthe plurality of nozzles 246 may be formed through outer portion 234 ofunitary body 210 for HGP component 200A. The plurality of nozzles 246formed through outer portion 234 may be in fluid communication withand/or fluidly coupled to high pressure fluid channel 260 of HGPcomponent 200A. Additionally, and as shown in FIG. 15, the plurality ofnozzles 246 formed through outer portion 134 may fluidly couple highpressure fluid channel 260 and low pressure fluid channel 238 of HGPcomponent 200A. As discussed herein, each of the plurality of nozzles246 formed through outer portion 234 may receive the HPF from the highpressure supply conduit 206 and/or high pressure fluid channel 260, andsubsequently provide or flow the HPF to low pressure fluid channel 238of HGP component 200A.

Also shown in the non-limiting example of FIG. 15, intermediate portion236 may include a plurality of openings or venturi 248 (hereafter,“venturi 248”) formed therein or therethrough. Each of the plurality ofventuri 248 may be formed through intermediate portion 236 of body 210for HGP component 200A. The plurality of venturi 248 formed throughintermediate portion 236 may be in fluid communication with and/or mayfluidly couple low pressure fluid channel 238 and cooling channel 242formed within body 210 for HGP component 200A. Additionally, and becauseventuri 248 are in fluid communication with low pressure fluid channel238, venturi 248 of HGP component 200A may also be in fluidcommunication with the LPF flowing through low pressure fluid channel238, and/or may be in fluid communication with low pressure supplyconduit(s) 208 of support 202 providing the LPF to low pressure fluidchannel 238. As discussed herein, each of the plurality of venturi 248formed through intermediate portion 236 may receive the LPF from lowpressure fluid channel 238, and subsequently provide or flow the LPF tocooling channel 242. Additionally, and as discussed herein, each of theplurality of venturi 248 may receive the HPF flowing through lowpressure fluid channel 238 via the plurality of nozzles 246, andsubsequently provide or flow the HPF to cooling channel 242.

The plurality of nozzles 246 and venturi 248 formed within HGP component200A may include substantially similar features as the plurality ofnozzles 146 and venturi 148 of HGP component 100 discussed herein withrespect to FIGS. 5 and 6. For example as shown in FIG. 15, the pluralityof nozzles 246 formed in outer portion 234 and the plurality of venturi248 formed in intermediate portion 236 of HGP component 200A may beradially and/or concentrically aligned. That is, each of the pluralityof nozzles 246 may be aligned and/or substantially concentric with acorresponding venturi 248. Additionally, nozzles 246 may include a firstdimension, for example a first diameter at throat (see e.g., FIG. 6)that is smaller than a second dimension or diameter of each venturi 248at the throat (see e.g., FIG. 6) of venturi 248. Additionally, eachventuri 248 may also include a diffuser (see e.g., FIG. 6) having athird dimension or diameter (see e.g., FIG. 6) that may be larger orgreater than first dimension or diameter of nozzles 246 and seconddimension or diameter of venturi 248. The various features of nozzles246 and venturi 248 of HGP component 200A may aid in the mixing of HFPand LPF, and substantially energize or increase the velocity of the LPFto cool HGP component 200A during operation of turbine 28 of gas turbinesystem 10, as similarly discussed herein.

It is understood that HGP component 200B formed as inner platform ofstator vane 40 may include similar features as HGP component 200Adiscussed herein with respect to FIGS. 14 and 15. More specifically, HGPcomponent 200B of stator vane 40 may include a body including aplurality of surfaces, portions, fluid channels, nozzles, and venturithat may be substantially identical to that of HGP component 200A.However distinct from HGP component 200A, HGP component 200B may includea low pressure fluid channel (e.g., low pressure fluid channel 238) indirect fluid communication with area 52 positioned adjacent rotor 30 ofturbine 28, and a high pressure fluid channel (e.g., high pressure fluidchannel 260) in direct fluid communication with area 50 positionedadjacent rotor 30. As similarly discussed herein, area 52 may includeLPF and area 50 may include HPF, which may be used to cool HGP component200B during operation of turbine 28. In another non-limiting example(not shown), HPF and LPF may be supplied from areas 50, 52 positionedadjacent casing 36, and subsequently supplied to HGP component 200B viaconduits formed through airfoil 46.

Similar to those non-limiting examples shown and discussed herein withrespect FIGS. 10-13, features and/or components of HGP components 200A,200B may be positioned in distinct portions and/or configured differentthan the non-limiting example shown in FIG. 15. For example, lowpressure fluid channel 238 in fluid communication with low pressuresupply conduit 208 may formed, positioned, and/or defined between topplate 259 and outer plate 234 including the plurality of nozzles 246.Additionally, high pressure fluid channel 260 in fluid communicationwith high pressure supply conduit 206 may be formed, positioned, and/ordefined between outer plate 234 and intermediate plate 236 including theplurality of venturi 248. As similarly discussed herein with respect toFIGS. 12 and 13, LPF flowing through the plurality of nozzles 246 in HGPcomponent 200A, 200B may flow into and mix with HPF flowing through theplurality of venturi 248, before flowing into cooling channel 242 andbeing discharged from HGP component 200A, 200B.

FIGS. 16 and 17 show additional views of another non-limiting example ofHGP components included in turbine 28 of gas turbine system 10.Specifically, FIG. 16 shows a side view of a portion of turbine 28including a stage of turbine blades 38 including HGP component 300A, anda stage of stator vanes 40 including HGP component 300B, and FIG. 17shows a top, cross-sectional view of HGP component 300A and/or 300Btaken along line(s) CS-CS in FIG. 16. In the non-limiting example, HGPcomponents 300A may be formed as airfoil 46 of turbine blade 38, and HGPcomponent 300B may be formed as airfoil 42 of stator vane 40. Asdiscussed herein with respect to FIGS. 16 and 17, HGP component 300A andairfoil 46 of turbine blade 38 may be used interchangeably, and HGPcomponent 300B and airfoil 42 of stator vane 40 may be usedinterchangeably. The non-limiting example of the portion of turbine 28shown FIG. 16 may be substantially similar to the portion of turbine 28shown and discussed herein with respect to FIG. 2. It is understood thatsimilarly numbered and/or named components may function in asubstantially similar fashion. Redundant explanation of these componentshas been omitted for clarity.

Turning to FIG. 17, with continued reference to FIG. 16, the variousfeatures of HGP component 300A, 300B are discussed herein. It isunderstood that HGP component 300A formed as airfoil 46 of turbine blade38 and HGP component 300B formed as airfoil 42 of stator vane 40 mayinclude substantially similar features. Additionally, it is understoodthat turbine 28 of gas turbine system 10 (see, FIG. 1) may include HGPcomponent 300A and/or HGP component 300B to be used during operation.

HGP component 300A, 300B may include a body 302. In the non-limitingexample shown in FIG. 17, HGP component 300A, 300B, and the variouscomponents and/or features of HGP component 300A, 300B, may includeand/or be formed as a unitary body 302 such that HGP component 300A,300B is a single, continuous, and/or non-disjointed component or part.In the non-limiting example where HGP component 300A, 300B includes aunitary body, HGP component 300A, 300B may not require the building,joining, coupling, and/or assembling of various parts to completely formHGP component 300A, 300B, and/or may not require building, joining,coupling, and/or assembling of various parts before HGP component 300A,300B can be installed and/or implemented within turbine system 10 (see,FIG. 1). Rather, once single, continuous, and/or non-disjointed unitarybody 302 for HGP component 300A, 300B is built, as discussed herein, HGPcomponent 300A, 300B may be immediately installed within turbine system10.

In the non-limiting example, unitary body 302 of HGP component 300A,300B, and the various components and/or features of HGP component 300A,300B, may be formed using any suitable additive manufacturingprocess(es) and/or method. For example, HGP component 300A, 300Bincluding unitary body 302 may be formed by direct metal laser melting(DMLM) (also referred to as selective laser melting (SLM)), direct metallaser sintering (DMLS), electronic beam melting (EBM), stereolithography(SLA), binder jetting, or any other suitable additive manufacturingprocess(es). Additionally, unitary body 302 of HGP component 300A, 300Bmay be formed from any material that may be utilized by additivemanufacturing process(es) to form HGP component 300A, 300B, and/orcapable of withstanding the operational characteristics (e.g., exposuretemperature, exposure pressure, and the like) experienced by HGPcomponent 300A, 300B within gas turbine system 10 during operation.

In another non-limiting example, body 302 of HGP component 300A, 300Bmay be formed as multiple and/or distinct portions or parts (see, FIG.17). For example, and as discussed herein, body 302 of HGP component300A, 300B may be formed from a first part that may include an outerwall, and at least one distinct part that may include additionalportions or walls forming HGP component 300A, 300B. The distinct partsforming body 302 of HGP component 300A, 300B may be joined, coupled,and/or affixed to one another to form HGP component 300A, 300B beforebeing installed in turbine 28 within gas turbine system 10. Each partforming body 302, and the various components and/or features of HGPcomponent 300A, 300B, may be formed using any suitable manufacturingprocess(es) and/or method. For example, body 302 including distinctparts may be formed by milling, turning, cutting, casting, molding,drilling, and the like.

HGP component 300A, 300B may also include various edges and sides. Forexample, and as shown in FIG. 17, body 302 of HGP component 300A, 300Bmay include a leading edge 304 and a trailing edge 306 formed oppositethe leading edge 304. Additionally, body 302 of HGP component 300A, 300Bmay include a pressure side 308, and a suction side 310 positionedopposite pressure side 308. Both pressure side 308 and suction side 310of HGP component 300A, 300B may extend between leading edge 304 andtrailing edge 306 of body 302. During operation combustion gas 26 (see,FIG. 16) may flow from leading edge 304 to trailing edge 306, and overpressure side 308 and suction side 310, respectively, to drive and/orrotate rotor 30, as discussed herein.

As shown in FIG. 17, body 302 of HGP component 300A, 300B may alsoinclude a plurality of distinct walls. For example, body 302 of HGPcomponent 300A, 300B may include an inner wall 312, an intermediate wall318, and an outer wall 320 formed adjacent leading edge 304. Inner wall312 may extend radially through HGP component 300A, 300B. In thenon-limiting example where HGP component 300A, 300B is formed as airfoil42, 46, inner wall 312 may extend radially through a portion of airfoil46 between platform 47 and tip portion 48 of turbine blade 38 and/orthrough a (radial) portion of airfoil 42 between outer platform 200A andinner platform 200B of stator vane 40. Inner wall 312 may be formedand/or shaped as a substantially open cylinder. That is, and as shown inFIG. 17, inner wall 312 of body 302 may including an opening, and/or maysurround and define a high pressure fluid chamber 322 formed in HGPcomponent 300A, 300B. Similar to inner wall 312, high pressure fluidchamber 322 may extend radially through HGP component 300A, 300B. In thenon-limiting example shown in FIG. 17, high pressure fluid chamber 322defined by inner wall 312 may extend radially through and/or be formedin a portion of airfoil 46 between platform 47 and tip portion 48 ofturbine blade 38, and/or extend radially through and/or be formed inportion of airfoil 42 between outer platform 200A and inner platform200B of stator vane 40. As discussed herein, high pressure fluid chamber322 may receive high pressure fluid (HPF) flowing through a portion ofturbine 28 (e.g., area 50; FIG. 16), and may subsequently flow or directthe HPF through the various walls 312, 318, 320 of body 302 to cool HGPcomponent 300A, 300B during operation of turbine 28.

Body 302 of HGP component 300A, 300B may also include intermediate wall318. Intermediate wall 318 may extend radially through HGP component300A, 300B. In the non-limiting example where HGP component 300A, 300Bis formed as airfoil 42, 46, intermediate wall 318 may extend radiallythrough a portion of airfoil 46 between platform 47 and tip portion 48of turbine blade 38 and/or through a (radial) portion of airfoil 42between outer platform 200A and inner platform 200B of stator vane 40.Additionally, and as shown in FIG. 17, intermediate wall 318 may bepositioned adjacent to, separated from, and/or may substantiallysurround inner wall 312 of body 302 for HGP component 300A, 300B. Thatis, intermediate wall 318 may also be formed and/or shaped as asubstantially open cylinder and may substantially surround or encircleinner wall 312. As a result, and as shown in the non-limiting example ofFIG. 17, intermediate wall 318 may surround, and together with innerwall 312 may define, a low pressure fluid chamber 324 formed in HGPcomponent 300A, 300B. Similar to high pressure fluid chamber 322, lowpressure fluid chamber 324 may extend radially through HGP component300A, 300B. In the non-limiting example, low pressure fluid chamber 324defined by and/or formed between intermediate wall 318 and inner wall312 may extend radially through and/or be formed in a portion of airfoil46 between platform 47 and tip portion 48 of turbine blade 38, and/orextend radially through and/or be formed in portion of airfoil 42between outer platform 200A and inner platform 200B of stator vane 40.Additionally, low pressure fluid chamber 324 may be positioned adjacentto and/or extend substantially parallel to high pressure fluid chamber322 of HGP component 300A, 300B. As discussed herein, low pressure fluidchamber 324 may receive low pressure fluid (LPF) flowing through aportion of turbine 28 (e.g., area 52; FIG. 16), and may subsequentlyflow or direct the LPF through the various walls 318, 320 of body 302 tocool HGP component 300A, 300B during operation of turbine 28.

Additionally in the non-limiting example shown in FIG. 17, body 302 ofHGP component 300A, 300B may include outer wall 320. Outer wall 320 mayform an exposed or outer surface 326 of body 302 of HGP component 300A,300B. Where HGP component 300A, 300B is formed as airfoil 42, 46, outerwall 320 may extend between platform 47 and tip portion 48 of turbineblade 38 and/or may extend between outer platform 200A and innerplatform 200B of stator vane 40. Additionally in the non-limitingexample, outer wall 320 of airfoil 42, 46 (e.g., HGP component 300A,300B) may include outer surface 326 that may be exposed and/or come incontact with combustion gas 26 during operation of turbine 28 (see, FIG.16). As shown in FIG. 17, outer wall 320 may be positioned adjacent to,separated from, and/or may substantially surround inner wall 312 andintermediate wall 318, respectively, of body 302 for HGP component 300A,300B. That is, outer wall 320 may also be formed and/or shaped as asubstantially open cylinder and may substantially surround or encircleintermediate wall 318, and in turn inner wall 312 as well. As a result,and as shown in the non-limiting example of FIG. 17, outer wall 320 maysurround, and together with intermediate wall 318 may define, a coolingchannel 328 formed in HGP component 300A, 300B. Similar to fluidchambers 322, 324 discussed herein, cooling channel 328 may extendradially through HGP component 300A, 300B. In the non-limiting example,cooling channel 328 defined by and/or formed between intermediate wall318 and outer wall 320 may extend radially through and/or be formed in aportion of airfoil 46 between platform 47 and tip portion 48 of turbineblade 38, and/or extend radially through and/or be formed in portion ofairfoil 42 between outer platform 200A and inner platform 200B of statorvane 40. Additionally, cooling channel 328 may be positioned adjacent toand/or extend substantially parallel to high pressure fluid chamber 322and low pressure fluid chamber 324, respectively, of HGP component 300A,300B. Cooling channel 328 may also extend radially through body 302adjacent and opposite outer surface 326 included in outer wall 320 ofHGP component 300A, 300B. As discussed herein, cooling channel 328 mayreceive HPF and LPF flowing through the various walls 312, 318 of body302 to cool HGP component 300A, 300B, and more specifically outer wall320 during operation of turbine 28.

In the non-limiting example shown in FIG. 17, the various walls 312,318, 320 of body 302 may be formed integral with one another such thatbody 302 is a unitary body. That is, and as discussed herein, inner wall312, intermediate wall 318, and outer wall 320 of body 302 may be formedintegral with one another, and/or may be formed as a single, continuous,and/or non-disjointed component or part. Unitary body 302 of HGPcomponent 300A, 300B including inner wall 312, intermediate wall 318,and outer wall 320 may be formed using any suitable additivemanufacturing process(es) and/or method, as similarly discussed herein.In other non-limiting examples discussed herein (see, FIG. 17), innerwall 312, intermediate wall 318, and/or outer wall 320 of body 302 maybe formed from distinct parts and may be assembled and/or joined beforeHGP component 300A, 300B is included within turbine 28.

In order to provide the HPF and the LPF within the various portions(e.g., chambers 322, 324, cooling channel 328) of HGP component 300A,300B to cool the component, HGP component 300A, 300B may also include aplurality and/or array of openings formed therein. For example, innerwall 312 and intermediate wall 318 of HGP component 300A, 300B may eachinclude a plurality and/or array of openings, nozzles, and/or venturi.Turning to FIG. 18, with continued reference to FIG. 17, inner wall 312may include a plurality of high pressure openings or nozzles 330(hereafter, “high pressure nozzles 330”) formed therein or therethrough.Each of the plurality of high pressure nozzles 330 may be formed throughinner wall 312 of body 302 for HGP component 300A, 300B. The pluralityof high pressure nozzles 330 formed or extending through inner wall 312may be in fluid communication with and/or fluidly coupled to highpressure fluid chamber 322. Additionally, and as shown in FIGS. 17 and18, the plurality of high pressure nozzles 330 formed through inner wall312 may fluidly coupled to and/or in fluid communication with lowpressure fluid chamber 324 formed between inner wall 312 andintermediate wall 318. As such, the plurality of high pressure nozzles330 may fluidly couple high pressure fluid chamber 322 and low pressurefluid chamber 324 of HGP component 300A, 300B. As discussed herein, eachof the plurality of high pressure nozzles 330 formed through inner wall312 may receive the HPF from high pressure fluid chamber 322, andsubsequently provide or flow the HPF to low pressure fluid chamber 324of HGP component 300A, 300B.

Also shown in the non-limiting example of FIGS. 17 and 18, intermediatewall 318 may include a plurality of low pressure openings or venturi 332(hereafter, “low pressure venturi 332”) formed therein or therethrough.Each of the plurality of low pressure venturi 332 may be formed orextend through intermediate wall 318 of body 302 for HGP component 300A,300B. The plurality of low pressure venturi 332 formed or extendingthrough intermediate wall 318 may be in fluid communication with and/ormay fluidly couple low pressure fluid chamber 324 and cooling channel328 formed within body 302 for HGP component 300A, 300B. As discussedherein, each of the plurality of low pressure venturi 332 formed throughintermediate wall 318 may receive the LPF from low pressure fluidchamber 324, and subsequently provide or flow the LPF to cooling channel328. Additionally, and as discussed herein, each of the plurality of lowpressure venturi 332 may receive the high pressure fluid (HPF) flowingthrough low pressure fluid chamber 324 via the plurality of highpressure nozzles 330, and subsequently provide or flow the HPF tocooling channel 328.

In the non-limiting example shown in FIGS. 17 and 18, the plurality ofhigh pressure nozzles 330 formed in inner wall 312 and the plurality oflow pressure venturi 332 formed in intermediate wall 318 of HGPcomponent 300A, 300B may be (concentrically) aligned. That is, each ofthe plurality of high pressure nozzles 330 may be aligned and/orsubstantially concentric with a corresponding low pressure venturi 332.Additionally, and as shown in the non-limiting example FIG. 18, each ofthe plurality of high pressure nozzles 330 formed in inner wall 312 mayinclude a section 334 that may extend into a corresponding low pressureventuri 332 formed in intermediate wall 318. Specifically, section 334of high pressure nozzles 330 may extend into and/or may be positionedpartially within and/or surrounded by the concentrically aligned,corresponding low pressure venturi 332 of HGP component 300A, 300B. Asdiscussed herein, section 334 of each high pressure nozzle 330 mayextend into corresponding low pressure venturi 332 to direct HPF throughlow pressure venturi 332. Additionally, or alternatively, section 334 ofeach high pressure nozzle 330 may extend into corresponding low pressureventuri 332 to direct low pressure fluid (LPF) flowing through lowpressure fluid chamber 324 into low pressure venturi 332, and/or preventthe LPF from flowing through high pressure nozzles 330 and/or inner wall312.

As shown in FIG. 18, each of the plurality of high pressure nozzles 330may be sized differently and/or may include a distinct dimension thanthe plurality of low pressure venturi 332. That is, a dimension (e.g.,diameter) of the plurality of high pressure nozzles 330 may be distinctfrom a dimension of the plurality of low pressure venturi 332. In thenon-limiting example, each of the plurality of high pressure nozzles 330formed in inner wall 312 may include a first diameter (D₁) at the throator neck (e.g., narrowest part; section 334) of the nozzle opening orconfiguration. Additionally, each of the plurality of low pressureventuri 332 formed in intermediate wall 318 may include a seconddiameter (D₂) at the throat (e.g., narrowest part) of the venturiopening or configuration. As shown in the non-limiting example in FIG.18, the second diameter (D₂) of each low pressure venturi 332 may begreater or larger than the first diameter (D₁) of high pressure nozzle330. In non-limiting examples the second diameter of low pressureventuri 332 may be at least twice as large (e.g., 2:1 ratio or greater)than the first diameter (D₁) of high pressure nozzle 330. In othernon-limiting examples, the second diameter of low pressure venturi 332may be marginally larger (e.g., 10% larger) than the first diameter (D₁)of high pressure nozzle 330. The size or dimension of each of the firstdiameter (D₁) and the second diameter (D₂), as well as the difference insize between first diameter (D₁) and the second diameter (D₂) mayimprove the velocity and/or pressure of the HPF and LPF flowing throughHGP component 300A, 300B, as discussed herein.

It is understood that the size and/or number of nozzles 330 and venturi332 formed within HGP component 300A, 300B, as shown in FIGS. 17 and 18,is merely illustrative. As such, HGP component 300A, 300B may includelarger or smaller nozzles 330 and venturi 332, and/or may include moreor less nozzles 330 and venturi 332 formed therein. Additionally,although the high pressure nozzles 330 and low pressure venturi 332 areboth shown to be substantially uniform in size and/or shape, it isunderstood that each of the plurality of nozzles 330 and venturi 332formed in HGP component 300A, 300B may include distinct sizes and/orshapes. The sizes, shapes, and/or number of nozzles 330 and venturi 332formed in HGP component 300A, 300B may depend at least in part onvarious parameters (e.g., exposure temperature, exposure pressure,position within turbine casing 36, HPF operational pressure/temperature,LPF operational pressure/temperature, and the like) of gas turbinesystem 10 during operation. Additionally, or alternatively, the sizes,shapes, and/or number of nozzles 330 and venturi 332 formed in HGPcomponent 300A, 300B may be dependent, at least in part on thecharacteristics (e.g., inner wall 312 thickness, intermediate wall 318thickness, volume of chambers 322, 324, volume of cooling channel 328,and so on) of HGP component 300A, 300B.

Additionally as shown in FIG. 18, intermediate wall 318 of body 302 forHGP component 300A, 300B may also include a plurality of diffusers 336.Each of the plurality of diffusers 336 may be formed integral with acorresponding low pressure venturi 332 formed through intermediate wall318. That is, and as shown in FIG. 18, diffuser 336 may be formedintegral with each low pressure venturi 332 and may be positionedradially adjacent the low pressure venturi 332, and more specificallythe throat (e.g., narrowest part) of each low pressure venturi 332.Diffuser 336 may also be formed adjacent and/or extend radially towardouter wall 320 of body 302 of HGP component 300A, 300B. In thenon-limiting example, diffuser 336 may include a diverging shape,geometry, and/or configuration that gets larger or wider as diffuser 336extends closer toward outer wall 320 of HGP component 300A, 300B. In thenon-limiting example, the largest dimension (e.g., diameter) of diffuser336 may be formed at an end 338 adjacent outer wall 320. End 338 ofdiffuser 336 may include a third diameter (D₃), that may be larger orgreater than first diameter (D₁) of high pressure nozzles 330 and seconddiameter (D₂) of low pressure venturi 332. In additional to the size ordimension of each of the first diameter (D₁) and the second diameter(D₂), the size of the third dimension (D₃) of each diffuser 336 of HGPcomponent 300A, 300B may increase a static pressure of the HPF and LPFflowing through HGP component 300A, 300B, as discussed herein.

Returning to FIG. 17, HGP component 300A, 300B may also include at leastone cooling hole 340, 342. More specifically, body 302 of HGP component300A, 300B may include cooling hole(s) 340, 342 formed and/or extendingthrough outer wall 320. In the non-limiting example, a first coolinghole 340 may extend through outer wall 320 on pressure side 308 of body302 of HGP component 300A, 300B, and second cooling hole 342 may extendthrough outer wall 320 on suction side 310. Additionally, coolinghole(s) 340, 342 may be formed and/or may extend through outer surface326 of outer wall 320 of body 302. Cooling hole(s) 340, 342 may befluidly coupled and/or in fluid communication with cooling channel 328.As discussed herein, cooling fluid (e.g., HPF, LPF) may flow throughcooling channel 328 before being exhausted from HGP component 300A, 300Bvia cooling holes 340, 342 in fluid communication with cooling channel328.

Although two cooling holes 340, 342 are shown formed in HGP component300A, 300B and in fluid communication with cooling channel 328, it isunderstood that the number of cooling holes formed within HGP component300A, 300B is merely illustrative. As such, HGP component 300A, 300B mayinclude more or less cooling holes formed therein for exhausting thecooling fluid (e.g., HPF, LPF) from HGP component 300A, 300B duringoperation. The number of cooling holes formed in HGP component 300A,300B may depend at least in part on various parameters (e.g., exposuretemperature, exposure pressure, position/stage within turbine casing 36,HPF operational pressure/temperature, LPF operationalpressure/temperature, and the like) of gas turbine system 10 duringoperation. Additionally, or alternatively, the number of cooling holesformed in HGP component 300A, 300B may be dependent, at least in part onthe characteristics (e.g., outer wall 320 thickness, volume of chambers322, 324, volume of cooling channel 328, and so on) of HGP component300A, 300B.

With reference to FIGS. 17 and 18, the flow path of HPF and LPF throughHGP component 300A, 300B may be discussed herein. Specifically in FIGS.17 and 18, the flow direction of the fluid may be represented by arrowsand may be labeled as “HPF” and “LPF.”

In the non-limiting example, HPF may flow from area 50, through aportion of turbine blade 38 and/or stator vane 40 (see, FIG. 16), andinto high pressure fluid chamber 322 extending through and/or formed inHGP component 300A, 300B. From high pressure fluid chamber 322, the HPFmay flow through the plurality of high pressure nozzles 330 formedthrough inner wall 312. In the non-limiting example where high pressurenozzles 330 are aligned and/or concentric with low pressure venturi 332extending through intermediate wall 318, the HPF may flow directly intoand/or through the low pressure venturi 332 formed through intermediatewall 318. The HPF may mix with and substantially energize or increasethe velocity of the LPF also flowing through low pressure venturi 332.The HPF may flow through the low pressure venturi 332, may be diffusedby diffuser 336 of intermediate wall 318, and may flow to coolingchannel 328 of HGP component 300A, 300B. Once inside cooling channel328, the mixture of HPF and LPF may substantially cool outer wall 320 ofHGP component 300A, 300B and may flow through cooling channel 328 towardand subsequently exhausted from cooling holes 340, 342 of HGP component300A, 300B.

Simultaneous to and/or independent of the HPF flowing through HGPcomponent 300A, 300B, LPF may be provided to and flow through HGPcomponent 300A, 300B as well. LPF may flow from area 52, through aportion of turbine blade 38 and/or stator vane 40 (see, FIG. 16), andinto low pressure fluid chamber 324 extending through and/or formed inHGP component 300A, 300B. Once provided to low pressure fluid chamber324, the LPF may flow through the plurality of low pressure venturi 332formed through intermediate wall 318. In the non-limiting example wheresection 334 (see, FIG. 18) of high pressure nozzles 330 extends into lowpressure venturi 332, section 334 of high pressure nozzles 330 maydirect the LPF through low pressure venturi 332. Additionally where highpressure nozzles 330 are aligned and/or concentric with low pressureventuri 332 the LPF may flow directly into low pressure venturi 332 andmay mix with the HPF and substantially be charged or experience anincrease in velocity when flowing through low pressure venturi 332.Similar to the HPF, the LPF may flow through the low pressure venturi332, may be diffused by diffuser 336 of intermediate wall 318, and mayflow to cooling channel 328 of HGP component 300A, 300B. Once insidecooling channel 328, the LPF, along with the HPF, may substantially coolouter wall 320 of HGP component 300A, 300B before being exhausted fromHGP component via cooling holes 340, 342 in fluid communication withcooling channel 328 (see, FIG. 17).

As shown in FIG. 17, HGP component 300A, 300B may include additionalfeatures and/or portions that may be similar to those discussed herein.That is, body 302 of HGP component 300A, 300B may include additionalfeatures and/or portions positioned adjacent trailing edge 306 that maybe substantially similar to those features and/or portions positionedadjacent leading edge 304. For example, HGP component 300A, 300B shownin FIG. 17 may include distinct walls 344, 346 formed adjacent trailingedge 306 that may define various chambers 348, 350 and/or channels 352within body 302 of HGP component 300A, 300B. Specifically, body 302 ofHGP component 300A, 300B may also include a second or distinct innerwall 344 defining a second or distinct high pressure fluid chamber 348,a second or distinct intermediate wall 346 surrounding inner wall 344 todefine a low pressure fluid chamber 350, and outer wall 320 surroundingintermediate wall 346 to define a second or distinct cooling channel352. Additionally as shown in FIG. 17, distinct inner wall 344 mayinclude a plurality of high pressure nozzles 330 extending or formedtherethrough and distinct intermediate wall 346 may include a pluralityof low pressure venturi 332 extending or formed therethrough, assimilarly discussed herein with respect to inner wall 312 andintermediate wall 320. It is understood that similarly named componentsor features (e.g., inner wall 312 and distinct inner wall 344,intermediate wall 320 and distinct intermediate wall 346, high pressurefluid chamber 330 and distinct high pressure fluid chamber 348, and thelike) may function in a substantially similar fashion. Redundantexplanation of these components has been omitted for clarity.

Also substantially similar to those features and/or portions positionedadjacent leading edge 304, HGP component 300A, 300B may includeadditional and/or distinct cooling holes 354, 356. Similar to coolinghole(s) 340, 342, cooling hole(s) 354, 356 may be formed and/or extendthrough outer wall 320. In the non-limiting example, cooling hole 354may extend through outer wall 320 on pressure side 308 of body 302 ofHGP component 300A, 300B, and cooling hole 356 may extend through outerwall 320 on suction side 310. Additionally, cooling hole(s) 354, 356 maybe formed and/or may extend through outer surface 326 of outer wall 320of body 302. Cooling hole(s) 354, 356 may be fluidly coupled and/or influid communication with cooling channel 352. As similarly discussedherein with respect to cooling holes 340, 342, cooling fluid (e.g., HPF,LPF) may flow through cooling channel 352 before being exhausted fromHGP component 300A, 300B via cooling holes 354, 356 in fluidcommunication with cooling channel 352.

In the non-limiting example, HGP component 300A, 300B may also include atrailing edge cooling hole 358. Trailing edge cooling hole 358 may beformed and/or extending through outer wall 320. Specifically, trailingedge cooling hole 358 may extend through outer wall 320 between pressureside 308 and suction side 310 of body 302 of HGP component 300A, 300B,and may extend and/or be formed through (or adjacent) trailing edge 306of HGP component 300A, 300B. Additionally, trailing edge cooling hole358 may be formed and/or may extend through outer surface 326 of outerwall 320 of body 302. Trailing edge cooling hole 358 may also be fluidlycoupled and/or in fluid communication with cooling channel 352. Similarto cooling holes 354, 356, cooling fluid (e.g., HPF, LPF) may flowthrough cooling channel 352 before being exhausted from HGP component300A, 300B via trailing edge cooling hole 358 in fluid communicationwith cooling channel 352.

Additionally in the non-limiting example shown in FIG. 17, HGP component300A, 300B may include a sectioning wall 360. More specifically, body302 of HGP component 300A, 300B may include sectioning wall 360 formedintegral with and/or surrounded by outer wall 320. As shown in FIG. 17,sectioning wall 360 may extend and/or may be formed between pressureside 308 and suction side 310 of HGP component 300A. 300B, as well as bepositioned or formed within body 302 between leading edge 304 andtrailing edge 306. Sectioning wall 360 may also extend between andseparate cooling channel 328 and distinct cooling channel 352 formed inHGP component 300A, 300B.

Although two separate sets of cooling configurations (e.g., inner walls,intermediate walls, high pressure fluid chambers, low pressure fluidchambers, cooling channels, cooling holes, and the like) are shownformed in HGP component 300A, 300B, it is understood that the number ofcooling configurations and components forming the same in HGP component300A, 300B is merely illustrative. As such, HGP component 300A, 300B mayinclude more or less cooling configurations and/or walls, chambers,and/or cooling channels. The number of features or components formingthe cooling configurations in HGP component 300A, 300B may depend atleast in part on various parameters (e.g., exposure temperature,exposure pressure, position/stage within turbine casing 36, HPFoperational pressure/temperature, LPF operational pressure/temperature,and the like) of gas turbine system 10 during operation. Additionally,or alternatively, the number of features or components forming thecooling configurations in HGP component 300A, 300B may be dependent, atleast in part on the characteristics (e.g., outer wall 320 thickness,volume of chambers 322, 324, 348, 350, volume of cooling channel 328,352, and so on) of HGP component 300A, 300B.

FIGS. 19 and 20 show top, cross-sectional views of additionalnon-limiting examples of HGP component 300A, 300B. The non-limitingexamples of HGP components 300A, 300B shown in FIGS. 19 and 20 mayinclude additional features and/or components when utilized in turbine28, as discussed herein. It is understood that similarly numbered and/ornamed components may function in a substantially similar fashion.Redundant explanation of these components has been omitted for clarity.

As shown in FIG. 19, HGP component 300A, 300B may include at least onesupport 362. Support 362 may, for example, be positioned within highpressure fluid chamber 322 of HGP component 300A, 300B. Support 362 mayprovide support, structure, and/or rigidity to HGP component 300A, 300B,and more specifically, to at least inner wall 312 of body 302 for HGPcomponent 300A, 300B. Additionally, support 362 may also prevent orsubstantially reduce vibration of HGP component 300A, 300B including thevarious internal chambers 322, 324, and channels 328 during operation.In the non-limiting example, support 362 may include a first segment 364that may be positioned within and extend (radially) through highpressure fluid chamber 322. First segment 364 of support may bepositioned adjacent to, separated from, and/or surrounded by inner wall312. Support 362 may also include at least one distinct or secondsegment 366 positioned within high pressure fluid chamber 322. Secondsegment(s) 366 may extend between first segment 364 and inner wall 312of HGP component 300A, 300B. Specifically, second segment(s) 366 ofsupport 362 may extend between and contact and/or be coupled, affixed,or formed integral with inner wall 312 to couple and/or join firstsegment 364 of support 362 to inner wall 312 of HGP component 300A,300B.

In a non-limiting example, support 362 may be formed integral with body302 of HGP component 300A, 300B. More specifically, support 362including first segment 364 and second segment(s) 366 may be formedintegral with body 302 including inner wall 312. Support 362 may beformed with body 302/inner wall 312 when forming unitary body 302 of HGPcomponent 300A, 300B using any suitable additive manufacturingprocess(es) and/or method, as discussed herein. Alternatively, only oneof the segments (e.g., first segment 364) or no portion of support 362may be formed integral with body 302/inner wall 312 of HGP component300A, 300B. In these non-limiting examples, the segments not formedintegral with body 302 may be formed individually and/or separatelyusing any suitable manufacturing process including, but not limited tomilling, turning, cutting, casting, molding, drilling, and the like.Additionally, the separately formed segments 364, 366, or alternativelythe entirety of support 362, may be joined, coupled, and/or affixed toone another and subsequently joined, coupled, and/or affixed to body302/inner wall 312 of HGP component 300A, 300B using any suitablejoining process or technique including, but not limited to, welding,fastening, melting, sintering, brazing, and the like.

Additionally as shown in FIG. 19, HGP component 300A, 300B may alsoinclude at least one support pin 368. In the non-limiting example, aplurality of support pins 368 may be positioned and/or extend betweeninner wall 312 and intermediate wall 318, and be positioned within lowpressure fluid chamber 324. Additionally, each of the plurality ofsupport pins 368 may also contact and/or be coupled, affixed, or formedintegral with inner wall 312 and intermediate wall 318, respectively, ofHGP component 300A, 300B. Similar to support 362, the inclusion of theplurality of support pins 368 within HGP component 300A, 300B mayprovide additional or improved support, structure, and/or rigidity toinner wall 312 and intermediate wall 318 of HGP component 300A, 300B,and may substantially prevent vibration of HGP component 300A, 300Bduring operation of gas turbine system 10. In addition to providingsupport, structure, and/or rigidity to portions of HGP component 300A,300B, the plurality of support pins 368 positioned within low pressurefluid chamber 324 may also aid in the heat transfer and/or cooling ofHGP component 300A, 300B during operation of gas turbine system 10 (see,FIG. 16), as discussed herein. In a non-limiting example, the pluralityof support pins 368 may be formed integral with inner wall 312, and/orintermediate wall 318 when forming unitary body 302 of HGP component300A, 300B using any suitable additive manufacturing process(es) and/ormethod, as discussed herein. Alternatively, support pins 368 may beformed individually and/or separately using any suitable manufacturingprocess, and subsequently may be joined, coupled, and/or affixed toinner wall 312 and intermediate wall 318 of HGP component 300A, 300Busing any suitable joining process or technique.

As shown in FIG. 19, the distinct cooling configuration formed adjacenttrailing edge 306 may not include support 362 and the plurality ofsupport pins 368. That is, support 362 may be positioned only withinand/or extend through high pressure fluid chamber 322. In othernon-limiting examples, HGP component 300A, 300B may include support 362and/or the plurality of support pins 368 in all cooling configurations(e.g., leading edge cooling configuration including high pressure fluidchamber 322 and trailing edge cooling configuration including highpressure fluid chamber 348).

Although shown as only formed between inner wall 312 and intermediatewall 318, HGP component 300A, 300B, may include additional support pins368 formed in other portions and/or between additional walls of body302. In the non-limiting example shown in FIG. 20, HGP component 300A,300B may include a first plurality of support pins 368 formed orpositioned between inner wall 312 and intermediate wall 318 as similarlydiscussed herein with respect to FIG. 19. Additionally in thenon-limiting example, HGP component 300A, 300B may include a secondplurality of support pins 370 positioned and/or extending betweenintermediate wall 318 and outer wall 320, and positioned within coolingchannel 328. Additionally, each of the second plurality of support pins370 may also contact and/or be coupled, affixed, or formed integral withintermediate wall 318 and outer wall 320, respectively, of HGP component300A, 300B. Similar to the first plurality of support pins 368, thesecond plurality of support pins 370 included within HGP component 300A,300B may provide additional or improved support, structure, and/orrigidity to intermediate wall 318 and outer wall 320 of HGP component300A, 300B, and may substantially prevent vibration of HGP component300A, 300B during operation of gas turbine system 10. In addition toproviding support, structure, and/or rigidity to portions of HGPcomponent 300A, 300B, the second plurality of support pins 370positioned within cooling channel 328 may also aid in the heat transferand/or cooling of HGP component 300A, 300B during operation of gasturbine system 10 (see, FIG. 16), as discussed herein.

Also similar to first plurality of support pins 368, the secondplurality of support pins 370 may be formed integral with intermediatewall 318 and/or outer wall 320 when forming unitary body 302 of HGPcomponent 300A, 300B using any suitable additive manufacturingprocess(es) and/or method, as discussed herein. Alternatively, supportpins 370 may be formed individually and/or separately using any suitablemanufacturing process, and subsequently may be joined, coupled, and/oraffixed to intermediate wall 318 and/or outer wall 320 of HGP component300A, 300B using any suitable joining process or technique.

The size, shape, and/or number of support pins 368, 370 positioned orformed within HGP component 300A, 300B, as shown in FIGS. 19 and 20, ismerely illustrative. As such, HGP component 300A, 300B may includelarger or smaller support pins 368, 370, varying sized support pins 368,370, and/or may include more or less support pins 368, 370 formedtherein. The size, shapes, and/or number of support pins 368, 370 formedin HGP component 300A, 300B may be dependent, at least in part on theoperational characteristics (e.g., exposure temperature, exposurepressure, position within turbine casing 36, and the like) of gasturbine system 10 during operation. Additionally, or alternatively, thesize, shapes, and/or number of support pins 368, 370 formed in HGPcomponent 300A, 300B may be dependent, at least in part on thecharacteristics (e.g., inner wall 312/intermediate wall 318/outer wall320 thickness, volume of chambers 322, 324, volume of cooling channel328 and so on) of HGP component 300A, 300B.

FIG. 21 shows a top, cross-sectional view of another non-limitingexample of HGP component 300A, 300B. The non-limiting example of HGPcomponents 300A, 300B shown in FIG. 21 may include distinct featuresand/or components than other non-limiting examples discussed herein. Itis understood that similarly numbered and/or named components mayfunction in a substantially similar fashion. Redundant explanation ofthese components has been omitted for clarity.

For example, and as discussed herein, HGP component 300A, 300B may notbe formed from a unitary body 302. Rather, HGP component 300A, 300B maybe formed from various distinct parts. More specifically, inner wall 312and intermediate wall 318 of HGP component 300A, 300B may be formed fromdistinct parts and/or may be formed distinct from outer wall 320 of HGPcomponent 300A, 300B. In the non-limiting shown in FIG. 21, inner wall312 and intermediate wall 318 may be formed individually and/or separatefrom outer wall 320, and may interested into and subsequently joined,coupled, and/or affixed to body 302 or outer wall 320 to form HGPcomponent 300A, 300B. Inner wall 312 and intermediate wall 318 may bejoined, coupled, and/or affixed to various portions of HGP component300A, 300B and/or blade 38, for example, platform 47 or tip section 48.In another non-limiting example, inner wall 312 may be coupled tointermediate wall 318 via the first plurality of support pins 368 (shownin phantom), and/or intermediate wall 318 may be coupled to outer wall320 via the second plurality of support pins 370 (shown in phantom), assimilarly discussed herein with respect to FIG. 20. The inclusion andjoining of separate part inner wall 312 and intermediate wall 318 withbody 302 or outer wall 320 may form and define high pressure fluidchamber 322, low pressure fluid chamber 324, and cooling channel 328, asdiscussed herein.

In the non-limiting example shown in FIG. 21, inner wall 312 andintermediate wall 318 may be formed from distinct materials than outerwall 320 of HGP component 300A, 300B. For example, inner wall 312 andintermediate wall 318 may be formed from a first metal or alloy having afirst set of material properties and/or characteristics (e.g., meltingpoint, heat transfer characteristics, hardness, ductility, and thelike), while outer wall 320 may be formed from a second metal or allowhaving a second set of material properties and/or characteristics.Alternatively, each of inner wall 312, intermediate wall 318, and outerwall 320 may be formed from distinct materials, where each material hasunique material properties and/or characteristics. In anothernon-limiting example, inner wall 312, intermediate wall 318, and outerwall 320 may be formed from identical materials, but still formedindividually and/or separately. Each of inner wall 312, intermediatewall 318, and outer wall 320 may each be formed individually and/orseparately using any suitable manufacturing process including, but notlimited to additive manufacturing, milling, turning, cutting, casting,molding, drilling, and the like. Additionally, inner wall 312,intermediate wall 318, and outer wall 320 may be joined, coupled, and/oraffixed to one another to form HGP component 300A, 300B using anysuitable joining process or technique including, but not limited to,welding, fastening, melting, sintering, brazing, and the like.

By utilizing support 102, 202 and/or HGP component 100, 200, 300A, 300Bas discussed herein with respect to FIGS. 2-21, turbine 28 of gasturbine system 10 may utilize both HPF and LPF found within turbine 28to cool HGP component 100, 200, 300A, 300B. Additionally, the ratio ofHPF and LPF that may be used to cool HGP component 100, 200, 300A, 300Bmay include larger amounts of LPF than HPF.

Hot gas path (HGP) component 100, 200 and support 102, 202 (see, FIGS.2-15, respectively), and HGP components 300A, 300B or airfoils 42, 46 ofturbine 28 (see, FIGS. 16-21) may be formed in a number of ways. In oneembodiment, HGP component 100, 200, 300A, 300B and/or support 102, 202may be made by casting. However, as noted herein, additive manufacturingis particularly suited for manufacturing HGP component 100, 200including unitary body 110, support 102, 202, and HGP component 300A,300B including unitary body 302. As used herein, additive manufacturing(AM) may include any process of producing an object through thesuccessive layering of material rather than the removal of material,which is the case with conventional processes. Additive manufacturingcan create complex geometries without the use of any sort of tools,molds or fixtures, and with little or no waste material. Instead ofmachining components from solid billets of plastic or metal, much ofwhich is cut away and discarded, the only material used in additivemanufacturing is what is required to shape the part. Additivemanufacturing processes may include but are not limited to: 3D printing,rapid prototyping (RP), direct digital manufacturing (DDM), binderjetting, selective laser melting (SLM) and direct metal laser melting(DMLM). In the current setting, DMLM or SLM have been foundadvantageous.

To illustrate an example of an additive manufacturing process, FIG. 22shows a schematic/block view of an illustrative computerized additivemanufacturing system 900 for generating an object 902. In this example,system 900 is arranged for DMLM. It is understood that the generalteachings of the disclosure are equally applicable to other forms ofadditive manufacturing. Object 902 is illustrated as airfoils 42, 46 orHGP components 300A, 300B (see, FIGS. 12-17), but may also include HGPcomponent 100 (see, FIGS. 2-13) and/or HGP component 200 (see, FIGS. 14and 15). AM system 900 generally includes a computerized additivemanufacturing (AM) control system 904 and an AM printer 906. AM system900, as will be described, executes code 920 that includes a set ofcomputer-executable instructions defining airfoils 42, 46 to physicallygenerate the object 902 using AM printer 906. Each AM process may usedifferent raw materials in the form of, for example, fine-grain powder,liquid (e.g., polymers), sheet, etc., a stock of which may be held in achamber 910 of AM printer 906. In the instant case, airfoils 42, 46 maybe made of a metal or metal compound capable of withstanding theenvironment of gas turbine system 10 (see, FIG. 1). As illustrated, anapplicator 912 may create a thin layer of raw material 914 spread out asthe blank canvas from which each successive slice of the final objectwill be created. In other cases, applicator 912 may directly apply orprint the next layer onto a previous layer as defined by code 920, e.g.,where a metal binder jetting process is used. In the example shown, alaser or electron beam 916 fuses particles for each slice, as defined bycode 920, but this may not be necessary where a quick setting liquidplastic/polymer is employed. Various parts of AM printer 906 may move toaccommodate the addition of each new layer, e.g., a build platform 918may lower and/or chamber 910 and/or applicator 912 may rise after eachlayer.

AM control system 904 is shown implemented on computer 930 as computerprogram code. To this extent, computer 930 is shown including a memory932, a processor 934, an input/output (I/O) interface 936, and a bus938. Further, computer 930 is shown in communication with an externalI/O device/resource 940 and a storage system 942. In general, processor934 executes computer program code, such as AM control system 904, thatis stored in memory 932 and/or storage system 942 under instructionsfrom code 920 representative of HGP component 100, described herein.While executing computer program code, processor 934 can read and/orwrite data to/from memory 932, storage system 942, I/O device 940 and/orAM printer 906. Bus 938 provides a communication link between each ofthe components in computer 930, and I/O device 940 can comprise anydevice that enables a user to interact with computer (e.g., keyboard,pointing device, display, etc.). Computer 930 is only representative ofvarious possible combinations of hardware and software. For example,processor 934 may comprise a single processing unit, or be distributedacross one or more processing units in one or more locations, e.g., on aclient and server. Similarly, memory 932 and/or storage system 942 mayreside at one or more physical locations. Memory 932 and/or storagesystem 942 can comprise any combination of various types ofnon-transitory computer readable storage medium including magneticmedia, optical media, random access memory (RAM), read only memory(ROM), etc. Computer 930 can comprise any type of computing device suchas a network server, a desktop computer, a laptop, a handheld device, amobile phone, a pager, a personal data assistant, etc.

Additive manufacturing processes begin with a non-transitory computerreadable storage medium (e.g., memory 932, storage system 942, etc.)storing code 920 representative of HGP component 100. As noted, code 920includes a set of computer-executable instructions defining outerelectrode that can be used to physically generate the tip, uponexecution of the code by system 900. For example, code 920 may include aprecisely defined 3D model of HGP component 100 and can be generatedfrom any of a large variety of well-known computer aided design (CAD)software systems such as AutoCAD®, TurboCAD®, DesignCAD 3D Max, etc. Inthis regard, code 920 can take any now known or later developed fileformat. For example, code 920 may be in the Standard TessellationLanguage (STL) which was created for stereolithography CAD programs of3D Systems, or an additive manufacturing file (AMF), which is anAmerican Society of Mechanical Engineers (ASME) standard that is anextensible markup-language (XML) based format designed to allow any CADsoftware to describe the shape and composition of any three-dimensionalobject to be fabricated on any AM printer. Code 920 may be translatedbetween different formats, converted into a set of data signals andtransmitted, received as a set of data signals and converted to code,stored, etc., as necessary. Code 920 may be an input to system 900 andmay come from a part designer, an intellectual property (IP) provider, adesign company, the operator or owner of system 900, or from othersources. In any event, AM control system 904 executes code 920, dividingHGP component 100 into a series of thin slices that it assembles usingAM printer 906 in successive layers of liquid, powder, sheet or othermaterial. In the DMLM example, each layer is melted to the exactgeometry defined by code 920 and fused to the preceding layer.Subsequently, airfoils 42, 46 may be exposed to any variety of finishingprocesses, e.g., those described herein for re-contouring or other minormachining, sealing, polishing, etc.

Technical effects of the disclosure include, e.g., providing a turbineblade and/or stator vane airfoil that includes a plurality nozzles andventuri formed therein. The body of the airfoils (formed using additivemanufacturing) allows for the formation of various layers ofnozzles/venturi and the utilization of low pressure fluid in cooling thecomponent. This results in a reduced amount of fluid required to coolthe airfoils, which in turn reduces fuel consumption and/or heat ratewithin the turbine system.

The terminology used herein is for the purpose of describing particularembodiments only and is not intended to be limiting of the disclosure.As used herein, the singular forms “a”, “an” and “the” are intended toinclude the plural forms as well, unless the context clearly indicatesotherwise. It will be further understood that the terms “comprises”and/or “comprising,” when used in this specification, specify thepresence of stated features, integers, steps, operations, elements,and/or components, but do not preclude the presence or addition of oneor more other features, integers, steps, operations, elements,components, and/or groups thereof. “Optional” or “optionally” means thatthe subsequently described event or circumstance may or may not occur,and that the description includes instances where the event occurs andinstances where it does not.

Approximating language, as used herein throughout the specification andclaims, may be applied to modify any quantitative representation thatcould permissibly vary without resulting in a change in the basicfunction to which it is related. Accordingly, a value modified by a termor terms, such as “about,” “approximately” and “substantially,” are notto be limited to the precise value specified. In at least someinstances, the approximating language may correspond to the precision ofan instrument for measuring the value. Here and throughout thespecification and claims, range limitations may be combined and/orinterchanged, such ranges are identified and include all the sub-rangescontained therein unless context or language indicates otherwise.“Approximately” as applied to a particular value of a range applies toboth values, and unless otherwise dependent on the precision of theinstrument measuring the value, may indicate +/−10% of the statedvalue(s).

The corresponding structures, materials, acts, and equivalents of allmeans or step plus function elements in the claims below are intended toinclude any structure, material, or act for performing the function incombination with other claimed elements as specifically claimed. Thedescription of the present disclosure has been presented for purposes ofillustration and description, but is not intended to be exhaustive orlimited to the disclosure in the form disclosed. Many modifications andvariations will be apparent to those of ordinary skill in the artwithout departing from the scope and spirit of the disclosure. Theembodiment was chosen and described in order to best explain theprinciples of the disclosure and the practical application, and toenable others of ordinary skill in the art to understand the disclosurefor various embodiments with various modifications as are suited to theparticular use contemplated.

What is claimed is:
 1. An airfoil comprising: a body including: an inner wall defining a high pressure fluid chamber; a plurality of high pressure nozzles extending through the inner wall, each of the plurality of high pressure nozzles in fluid communication with the high pressure fluid chamber; an intermediate wall positioned adjacent to and surrounding the inner wall to define a low pressure fluid chamber formed between the intermediate wall and the inner wall; a plurality of low pressure venturi extending through the intermediate wall, each of the plurality of low pressure venturi in fluid communication with the low pressure fluid chamber; and an outer wall positioned adjacent to and surrounding the intermediate wall to define a cooling channel formed between the intermediate wall and the outer wall.
 2. The airfoil of claim 1, wherein each of the plurality of high pressure nozzles are in fluid communication with the low pressure fluid chamber to provide a high pressure fluid from the high pressure fluid chamber to the low pressure fluid chamber.
 3. The airfoil of claim 1, wherein each of the plurality of low pressure venturi are in fluid communication with the cooling channel to provide a low pressure fluid from the low pressure fluid chamber to the cooling channel.
 4. The airfoil of claim 1, wherein the plurality of high pressure nozzles extending through the inner wall are in fluid communication with the plurality of low pressure venturi extending through the intermediate wall to provide a high pressure fluid from the high pressure fluid chamber to the plurality of low pressure venturi.
 5. The airfoil of claim 1, wherein each of the plurality of high pressure nozzles are aligned with a corresponding low pressure venturi of the plurality of low pressure venturi.
 6. The airfoil of claim 1, further comprising at least one cooling hole extending through the outer wall, the at least one cooling hole in fluid communication with the cooling channel.
 7. The airfoil of claim 1, wherein at least one of the inner wall or the intermediate wall are formed integral with the outer wall.
 8. The airfoil of claim 1, further comprising: a support positioned within the high pressure fluid chamber, the support including: a first segment extending radially through the high pressure fluid chamber; and at least one second segment extending between and contacting the first segment and the inner wall.
 9. The airfoil of claim 8, further comprising at least one of: a first plurality of support pins extending between and contacting the inner wall and the intermediate wall, or a second plurality of support pins extending between and contacting the intermediate wall and the outer wall.
 10. The airfoil of claim 1, further comprising at least one of: a first plurality of support pins extending between and contacting the inner wall and the intermediate wall, or a second plurality of support pins extending between and contacting the intermediate wall and the outer wall.
 11. The airfoil of claim 10, wherein the inner wall, the intermediate wall, and the plurality of support pins are formed as a unitary component.
 12. The airfoil of claim 1, wherein: each of the plurality of high pressure nozzles extending through the inner wall have a first dimension; and each of the plurality of low pressure venturi extending through the intermediate wall have a second dimensionthat is greater than the first dimension.
 13. The airfoil of claim 12, wherein each of the plurality of low pressure venturi further include: a plurality of diffusers, each one of the plurality of diffusers formed integral with a corresponding low pressure venturi of the plurality of low pressure venturi, adjacent the cooling channel.
 14. The airfoil of claim 13, wherein each of the plurality of diffusers includes a third dimension, the third dimension being greater than the second dimensionof the plurality of low pressure venturi.
 15. The airfoil of claim 1, wherein a section of each of the plurality of high pressure nozzles extends within a corresponding low pressure venturi.
 16. An airfoil comprising: a body including: a first inner wall defining a first high pressure fluid chamber; a first plurality of high pressure nozzles extending through the first inner wall, each of the first plurality of high pressure nozzles in fluid communication with the first high pressure fluid chamber; a first intermediate wall positioned adjacent to and surrounding the first inner wall to define a first low pressure fluid chamber between the first intermediate wall and the first inner wall; a first plurality of low pressure venturi extending through the first intermediate wall, each of the first plurality of low pressure venturi in fluid communication with the first low pressure fluid chamber; a second inner wall surrounding and defining a second high pressure fluid chamber, the second inner wall positioned adjacent the first inner wall; a second plurality of high pressure nozzles extending through the second inner wall, each of the second plurality of high pressure nozzles in fluid communication with the second high pressure fluid chamber; a second intermediate wall positioned adjacent to and surrounding the second inner wall to define a second low pressure fluid chamber formed between the second intermediate wall and the second inner wall; a second plurality of low pressure venturi extending through the second intermediate wall, each of the second plurality of low pressure venturi in fluid communication with the second low pressure fluid chamber; an outer wall positioned adjacent to and surrounding: the first intermediate wall to define a first cooling channel formed between the first intermediate wall and the outer wall; and the second intermediate wall to define a second cooling channel formed between the second intermediate wall and the outer wall; and a sectioning wall extending between and separating the first cooling channel and the second cooling channel, the sectioning wall surrounded by the outer wall.
 17. The airfoil of claim 16, the body further including: a first cooling hole extending through the outer wall, the first cooling hole in fluid communication with the first cooling channel; and a second cooling hole extending through the outer wall, the second cooling hole in fluid communication with the second cooling channel.
 18. The airfoil of claim 16, wherein at least one of the first inner wall, the first intermediate wall, the second inner wall, or the second intermediate wall are formed integral with the outer wall.
 19. The airfoil of claim 16, further comprising: a support positioned within the high pressure fluid chamber, the support including: a first segment extending radially through the high pressure fluid chamber; and at least one second segment extending between and contacting the first segment and the inner wall.
 20. The airfoil of claim 19, further comprising at least one of: a first plurality of support pins extending between and contacting the inner wall and the intermediate wall, or a second plurality of support pins extending between and contacting the intermediate wall and the outer wall. 